Standard Squats
Hey MFT, hows it going, I was wondering if standard squats are an effective exercise because I read in the Mens Health Magazine that standard squats do not train both your legs the same. In the magazine, states that researchers say that doing standard squats, one leg is getting 6% stronger than the other. They do not know why yet, but is this true.They suggest doing single-leg squats, lunges and step-ups instead.Is this true or not? If you guys want to see where it says that it's on the February 2008 Mens Health Magazine on page 46. Heres what it says:
Balance Your Power
Standard squats don't work your legs equally, states a new study presented at the National Strength and Conditioning Association's annual conference. Computer analysis revealed that during a squat, one leg is burdened with 6 percent more of the load than the other. the researchers aren't sure what causes this imbalance, but stress that you shouldn't swear off this muscle builder.Instead, vary your routine with single-leg squats, lunges, and stepups. this ensures that you'll engage the muscles of each leg equally.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Technorati- rayballer's blog
- Login or register to post comments
- share with friends
My opinion
Is because many of us have one leg longer than the other, and this causes an offset?
Dunno but it sure seems like it >_<
funny you say that...
my brother has asked me about this before!!
during our typical daily talks on exercise physiology at the squat rack :), he was asking me about this. We've decided that its very likely that one of the main factors is core balance and stability.
Think about when you do crossovers. How many people hold a staggered stance? :D
THis is because they probably do not have great core strength, and are not focused on keeping their abdominals and core tight during the movement. This does take a lot of energy as opposed to just keeping your abs relaxed and then taking a staggered stance.
Also think of it this way, if you just stood there with your legs in alignment with each other waht's going to stop you from falling forward or backwards if pushed? You're core if you're keeping it tight (atypical for most lifters) or your staggered stance will cause you to gain more stability.
This is my $.50. I believe there may be much more involved and I believe that this mentioned topic stance or topic is very very highly involved in why this occurs.
Makes sense since its a small 6% difference, and the stance in their legs isn't very noticeable. As well as we humanly will develop imbalances as through our training, and the pure fact that our legs arent necessarily 100% purely equivalents through our genetic makeup (b/c genetics is only so much of it, and nature is the rest).
And to boot, one word helps sum up a lot of physiological aspects to this "dilemma".... Lifestyle.
--------------------------------------------
Priming your body before a workout [Warmup]: http://www.myfittribe.com/forums/best-ways-prevent-treat-post-work-out-s...