A biomechanical comparison of back and front squats in healthy trained individuals.
Gullett JC, Tillman MD, Gutierrez GM, Chow JW.
Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
The strength and stability of the knee plays an integral role in athletics and activities of daily living. A better understanding of knee joint biomechanics while performing variations of the squat would be useful in rehabilitation and exercise prescription. We quantified and compared tibiofemoral joint kinetics as well as muscle activity while executing front and back squats. Because of the inherent change in the position of the center of mass of the bar between the front and back squat lifts, we hypothesized that the back squat would result in increased loads on the knee joint and that the front squat would result in increased knee extensor and decreased back extensor muscle activity. A crossover study design was used. To assess the net force and torque placed on the knee and muscle activation levels, a combination of video and force data, as well as surface electromyographic data, were collected from 15 healthy trained individuals. The back squat resulted in significantly higher compressive forces and knee extensor moments than the front squat. Shear forces at the knee were small in magnitude, posteriorly directed, and did not vary between the squat variations. Although bar position did not influence muscle activity, muscle activation during the ascending phase was significantly greater than during the descending phase. The front squat was as effective as the back squat in terms of overall muscle recruitment, with significantly less compressive forces and extensor moments. The results suggest that front squats may be advantageous compared with back squats for individuals with knee problems such as meniscus tears, and for long-term joint health.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1900 ... d_RVDocSum
New Study - Front and Back Squats
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New Study - Front and Back Squats
by kp1512 on Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:05 pm
I know a few of you have switched to front squats so thought this would be interesting
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Re: New Study - Front and Back Squats
by Marks1972 on Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:33 pm
Well straight away, just saying 'back squat' doesnt mean much, the difference between an close stance olympic style ATG back squat and a wide stance, hip dominant PL squat are probably as different as the 'back squat' and front squat are.
You can feel the difference in wraps when you start learning to squat using your hips, they stop compressing as much so you can feel the difference it makes on forces on the knee.
wide stance, PL back squat + close stance atg Front squat is the ultimate legs combo imo and best way to look after the knees.
You can feel the difference in wraps when you start learning to squat using your hips, they stop compressing as much so you can feel the difference it makes on forces on the knee.
wide stance, PL back squat + close stance atg Front squat is the ultimate legs combo imo and best way to look after the knees.
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Current gym PBs - Deadlift 280kg, Squat 230kg (knee wraps and belt), Bench 160kg (wrist wraps)
Current gym PBs - Deadlift 280kg, Squat 230kg (knee wraps and belt), Bench 160kg (wrist wraps)
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Re: New Study - Front and Back Squats
by Ader on Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:58 pm
The article is somewhat brief - So difficult to judge
Also agree with Marks - It doesn't say much about what back squat variations were looked at. Plus a few other thoughts:
- Another thought that occurs is whether the same weights were used for the front and back squat tests and whether they were easy/light weights or difficult/heavy weights
- It also ocurs to me that typically people use less weight when they front squat than when they back squat so there'll obviously be less stress on the knees becasue less weight is used
- If only light weights were used for the test then is that a fair test
- We all do things slightly differently with bigger weights (well I do anyway) than with light ones and if light weights only were used for teh tests it doen't properly reflect what happens when training heavy
- I'd have thought that training heavy is when things are most likely to go wrong and hence what should be tested, eg We can all do 20Kg for loads of reps totally under control and probably placing little stress on teh jopints - Not so if we wack on 120Kg+
Bottom line is the article is too brief to consider properly
Also agree with Marks - It doesn't say much about what back squat variations were looked at. Plus a few other thoughts:
- Another thought that occurs is whether the same weights were used for the front and back squat tests and whether they were easy/light weights or difficult/heavy weights
- It also ocurs to me that typically people use less weight when they front squat than when they back squat so there'll obviously be less stress on the knees becasue less weight is used
- If only light weights were used for the test then is that a fair test
- We all do things slightly differently with bigger weights (well I do anyway) than with light ones and if light weights only were used for teh tests it doen't properly reflect what happens when training heavy
- I'd have thought that training heavy is when things are most likely to go wrong and hence what should be tested, eg We can all do 20Kg for loads of reps totally under control and probably placing little stress on teh jopints - Not so if we wack on 120Kg+
Bottom line is the article is too brief to consider properly
____________________________________________________________________________
Don’t let the sets last much longer than ten seconds, total. Kinda like sex with a hot chick, hit it hard for ten seconds.
Don’t let the sets last much longer than ten seconds, total. Kinda like sex with a hot chick, hit it hard for ten seconds.
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Re: New Study - Front and Back Squats
by cleaver on Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:00 pm
posted this aaaagggeees ago
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That's the only way you fucking junkies overcome adversity.
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Re: New Study - Front and Back Squats
by kp1512 on Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:05 pm
cleaver wrote:posted this aaaagggeees ago
woops.
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Re: New Study - Front and Back Squats
by Resurrected on Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:56 pm
cleaver wrote:posted this aaaagggeees ago
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3161&p=72528&hilit=+front+squat#p72528
Thoughts determine what you want... Actions determine what you get!
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