I'm in.

And we'll start it this way. Do you squat to parallel? Post up your legs. I squat full. I'll do the same.

I am sure that there are many other differences in our programs rather than how far we squat. I do go ATF in certain cycles.

Glad to see you want to particpate in a discussion of science though. Is that the Gams method you are using? :LOL:

A little anatomy ...

The knee has four main protective ligaments that keep the femur from displacing on the tibia (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL). These four ligaments are most effective at their protection during full extension and full flexion. Full extension would be when you are standing; full flexion would be when there is no daylight between your hamstring and your calf. When the knee is at 90 degrees of flexion (the halfway point), these four ligaments are almost completely lax and cannot exert much if any of a protective force at the knee (Zatsiorsky V.)

Unfortunately, the position where the protective ligaments of the knee are not doing any protecting is the common recommended stopping point of a squat. Therefore, as it as it turns out, this is the exact worst place you could reverse the motion under load.

If flexibility allows (heels staying planted, torso not flexing forward past 45 degrees), then a full squat where you lower yourself all the way to the ground is far safer on the knees than the traditional half squat. Guess what joint angle most leg extension machines start at? 90 degrees. This arguably makes a full squat even safer than a leg extension machine (Wilk K et al. A comparison of tibiofemoral joint forces and electromyographic activity during open and closed kinetic chain exercises. Am J Sports Med; 24(4):518-527).

Should you never to do parallel squats? I'm not saying that. Is it a guarantee that you’ll injure yourself on a parallel squat? No.

The point is that full squats are safe.

Another point - full range of motion = full development. How many other exercises do you see people doing with only half the range of motion? Most with truly impressive leg development are in fact full squatters.

So is there a good vidio or set of pictures that show the correct form for this type of squat?



I agree with this point. About the only exercise I could think of where people weren't doing full range of motion are bicep exercises and perhaps ab exercises.

mle, not sure what you mean by ab and bicep exercises not utilizing a full range of motion.

hey guys, post your butt pics, us girls will give our "professional opinion"


**cough**

I'm in.

When I get home.

Krista, purely in the name of science, of course, I couldn't agree more.

Fellas, lets see us some

Thunder, you're a heck of a man doing a heck of a job.

lmao

no pun, sorry

okay, we're soooooooooo bad


(can't wait to check when I get home from work tonight)

ahem!

Yeah. Thunder, you go home NOW, okay?

Yeah.... in the name of science, go home Thunder.

Wanda

LOL. Subscriptions are available to my website. I don't give away the good stuff for free.

For the record (and to avoid assumptions), I don't think that ATF squats are dangerous. I am just opening up a discussion. I'll have my response soon enough. Duty calls ...

Gee, I smell a copout. Whaddya think, ladies?

LOL, ladies? We aren't ladies!

Trainerdan, you wouldn't be giving it away, you'd just be loaning it!

Wanda