Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 379, Messages: 54577

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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squats

bicep
bicep
Posts: 315
Joined: 2001/01/26
Canada
2001/05/08, 12:32 PM

do you gys use a heel support when squatting ?

I heard that it causes knee pain.
BillK
BillK
Posts: 361
Joined: 2000/12/26
United States
2001/05/08, 12:40 PM
it could causes knee pain but you can eliminate some of that by not going below parallel and always keep your feet flat on the floor, also never do more weight than you can handle.


~billk~
bicep
bicep
Posts: 315
Joined: 2001/01/26
Canada
2001/05/08, 12:46 PM
I do my squats lightly, I used to do hack squat machine ..

I just wanna know if the heel support is necessary. does it do any harm ?
Tarek
Tarek
Posts: 3
Joined: 2001/02/19
Egypt
2001/05/08, 04:43 PM
If you have long legs and you are generally tall, when you squat with heavy weights, you will find that you have to bend forward too much. Putting a block of wood under your heels will minimise this. I don't think it hurts the knees, but you shouldn't go all the way down. Three quarters down is more than enough.
Tarek.
skeld2001
skeld2001
Posts: 271
Joined: 2001/02/10
United States
2001/05/11, 04:50 AM
Unless what Tarek says is true, I never thought about it that way, I just don't see the point. What is it supposed to do for you? I feel more powerful with my heels glued firmly to the floor. As far as the knee problem goes I've heard that too but don't ever use the blocks so I really don't know.
Amr_Mr.Olympia
Amr_Mr.Olympia
Posts: 195
Joined: 2001/04/03
Egypt
2001/05/11, 04:02 PM
I used to have the same problem...I was afraid that going down too much would hurt my knees..I did partial squats with very heavy weights, I used to do over 500lb..Then I realised that it is not worth it, laoding my back with that heavy weight and not going all the way down..Now I just do full squats with 250 lb and wrap my knees firmly so as not to injure them
Amr
skylar
skylar
Posts: 156
Joined: 2001/01/29
United States
2001/05/12, 07:06 PM
I have done squats with 2.5# plate under my heel for years and found that they help with the natural tendency for your heels to come off the floor when in the flexed position of the squat(down).
When not using the sumo stance as I call it(feet wider than shoulders) your heels come up when you try and keep your butt under you and not let it stick out. It also makes it easier to transition the butt under the hips when trying to bring the weight back up without the butt hanging out and compromising the back. I use the plates and look up to keep my alignment.