[quote]Foxen wrote:
Harizard wrote:
I’d have to say yes, but I wouldn’t expect to be able to become absolutely huge or anything. He’ll likely be able to get good strength from deadlift variations, the main thing that will suffer will be his quads from not squatting i suppose. Work with the mind muscle connection there and things like sissy squats (which involve zero hip flexion and very large quad focus) should be able to help a fair bit. Good luck to your boyfriend, I’m impressed he still tries to squat and hasn’t given everything up as a bad job like so many would.
Cool, I don’t think he has the dedication/drive to become absolutely huge anyway so that’s not a problem!
I’d forgotten about sissy squats, thanks - do you know of where there is a good description of how to perform them correctly? We train at home, so only have squat racks & free weights…
It is very disheartening for him (he loved squatting), especially when you add in the fact that his left shoulder is also fucked!! Can’t bench press/dip/pushup heavy without issues, can’t overhead press fantastically… [/quote]
The page you’re looking for, in all its sissy glory, is right here: Real Men Do Sissy Squats
and I wish you and your boyfriend best of luck with the wheels.
[quote]Foxen wrote:
Artem wrote:
Squats are really over-glorified… and deadlifts. You don’t need squats to build good legs; they’re just an option that a lot of people use. There are tons of other exercises and wonderful machines that you can use.
I guess after a while it kinda gets drilled into you that squats are so essential and the best mass builder of all time…so you think gotta squat gotta squat gotta squat, it’s good to hear from people doing it that they’re not essntial, just useful :)[/quote]
The main thing about squats that people like is that it works your entire core and lower back. If you can find something else to do that, especially deadlifts (Like you said he can do) then it’s not necessary at all. Squats don’t work well for a lot of people. Front squats work better for a lot, and some just need to use the leg press or hack squat; there are tons of options.
[quote]Artem wrote:
Squats are really over-glorified… and deadlifts. You don’t need squats to build good legs; they’re just an option that a lot of people use. There are tons of other exercises and wonderful machines that you can use.[/quote]
I think anyone who has done heavy squats and deadlifts would disagree with this. Over-glorified my arse.
Get him to try pulling a sled especially backwards to work his quads. Check out Cressey’s shoulder series here - the self ART treatment worked very well for me. My hip pain cleared up when i eased into running. If he can run, hill sprints or just the accleration phase first 20-30m of a short sprint is a very good option.
Don’t bother with the crap machines that some use. He will only injure himseld further with this garbage. Not so much the leg press but leg extensions are just injurious.
He might want to try a trap bar too.
[quote]decimation wrote:
Get him to try pulling a sled especially backwards to work his quads. Check out Cressey’s shoulder series here - the self ART treatment worked very well for me. My hip pain cleared up when i eased into running. If he can run, hill sprints or just the accleration phase first 20-30m of a short sprint is a very good option.
Don’t bother with the crap machines that some use. He will only injure himseld further with this garbage. Not so much the leg press but leg extensions are just injurious.
He might want to try a trap bar too. [/quote]
x2 in a big way, I forgot about trap bar deadlifting. How could an exercise halfway between a deadlift and a squat be anything less than the cat’s meow? Good shit right there.
Though my problem is not hip related, I am recovering from a MCL tear and figured I would throw my $.02 in. I am about 75% recovered, and barbell squatting is painfull. Ive found some excercises that don’t really flare up my knee much. If your gym has a “power squat” machine, try that. You stand in it and face the pads, front squat style. I can actually go heavy on this with a slow eccentric as far as my knee lets me. I also do trap bar deads and real hack squats, with the barbell on the floor behind your heels.
Spend good time warming up and performing hip flexor stretces.
Good luck with the recovery!
My two cents: he needs to find a good ortho. This is just coming from my background though. Find someone that works with athletes and is committed to making him better, not just telling him to not do squats anymore.
I was born with a congenital femur defect that manifested after about 4 years of wide (PL type) squatting. My femur gradually ripped up my hip meniscus on my dominant side and I had surgery to shave the bone down to size and repair the meniscus. Now my dominant hip is more flexible and stronger than the other side once again, and pain free, more importantly. I now squat no wider than shoulder width and the other hip doesn’t show too many signs of trauma (at least that I can feel) so no more PL style squats for me.
I bring this up because the way it manifested was a painful snapping feeling coming out of the hole on squats along with a swole feeling in the joint afterwards. It was the combination of hip flexion and leg spread that caused it the snapping and probably the tearing… conv. deads and single leg squats didn’t hurt, but any type of squat to proper depth did, and sumo’s were really close to causing it. Sounds kind of similar to what he’s feeling, but hopefully he just needs soft tissue work and doesn’t have serious damage.
Either way, don’t count out squats yet; get it diagnosed and (hopefully) fixed.
[quote]Count Crotchula wrote:
Artem wrote:
Squats are really over-glorified… and deadlifts. You don’t need squats to build good legs; they’re just an option that a lot of people use. There are tons of other exercises and wonderful machines that you can use.
I think anyone who has done heavy squats and deadlifts would disagree with this. Over-glorified my arse.[/quote]
I have done both. I still squat regularly. I don’t deadlift. Not every exercise is good for everybody and it doesn’t matter if some people think it’s a staple exercise or whatever. There are plenty of ways to stimulate a muscle. Those two exercises are not necessary at all.
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