Alternative Suggestions to Squats

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

I have recently added squats back into my legs routine for about two monts now. During them, I have been experiencing abdominal muscle pain on my front left side around my waistline. I have tried to work through it with lesser weight but it scares me for further injury. No other exercise gives me this discomfort. Anyone have this same problem???

I would like to swap squats out for another exercise. My current routine consists of back squats, leg press, leg extensions, romanian deadlift, lying leg curls. Any suggestions to use in-place of the squats…or should I quite being a wuss and work through the pain? Thanks for responces!

2

I experienced the same when I first started. My pain was around the groin area.

You generally have to be quite flexible or at least work on becoming more flexible when performing squats especially around the hip area. Try some groin stretches and work into it slowly.

3

If something hurts, you’re probably doing something wrong. There’s hardly enough info in your post for anyone to give solid advice.

It could be form, other exercise selection, mobility issue, or any other number of things.

Think it through and get back to us.

4

You should see a doctor to rule out any serious problems, but it may be a tight hip flexor (psoas).

5

It could very possibly be a hernia. If you strain during squats then maybe think about that possibility?

Joe

6

[quote]Joe Joseph wrote:
It could very possibly be a hernia. If you strain during squats then maybe think about that possibility?

Joe[/quote]

Agreed.

Does it hurt when you deadlift?

barbell split squats
barbell lunges forward and reverse
barbell step ups

7

Does if feel like you grew a third nut and it’s jammed up above your manhood, off to the side a little? That’s a hernia (at least that’s what mine felt like).

If you rule out hernia, maybe drop the weight down and really work on your form. That should shore up any weaknesses

8

[quote]dankid wrote:
You should see a doctor to rule out any serious problems, but it may be a tight hip flexor (psoas). [/quote]

Agreed … better safe than sorry.

9

No, not really my groin area, but at my waist line. I would say 4-5 inches above my junk and to the left of center like 2-3 inches.
It doesn’t hurt during any other exersices. Deadlift I can go heavy, dumbell lunges are fine, leg press I can load up weight…its just squats.

If I had to describe the pain I would say it feels like a muscle tear, but it couldn’t be because it doesn’t hurt after working out or during other lifts…like I said, just squats.
What other lift is compriable to the squat that I am not already doing?

10

I really try to use proper form when I squat since I was feeling this pain. Even light weight gives me this pain.
Just a question…what exactly is a hernia and what do doctors do for it?

11

I really think it’s an issue of hip flexibility. I get the same thing when I squat deep. It isn’t a searing pain though right? more like you’re just stretching a tight muscle? I’m working on box squats and hip mobility until I can get deep enough

12

check out my post history, and click on my last post in The THIB ZONE thread. He addressed this issue for me and offered exercises. Of course, make sure (like others have said already) that you are fine medically.