Foot placement during squats

[Bob Smith]

I was at the gym today and saw one of the girls squatting with a funny/weird stance. The chick is a pretty good lifter; 16 yrs old, DLs ~305, benches around 140 and squats in the high 200s. She weighs probably 120 pounds.

Anyway, I was watching her and one foot was turned slightly outward (like normal) and the other was like 45 degrees out. \ | <---kinda like that. She clearly rotated her hips and shoulders because of this. Her dad was there, who is a decent lifter, and he said that all the top PLers do this because of some blah blah blah reasons, helps keep your back stable. Now, I immediately thought this was a load of crap and have never seen anyone purposely have a foot position so uneven.

Has anyone heard of this type foot placement? I highly doubt it, but do any top lifters actually do this? AnimalMass, if you read this Id love to hear your thoughts.

[Sphinx]

Im not even close to a top lifter....the only thing I could think of is to recruit some lagging body parts.....
Beyond that...sounds like a good way to break off her baby ways!
Sphinx.

[perp69]

Ouch. That sounds like it would be uncomfortable to squat like that. I would probably dislocate something. Was she able to do a full squat like that?

[Bob Smith]

Yeah, she could squat to parallel. The weird thing is that there are a whole bunch of people at my gym who do this. And this isnt your regular "fitness club" type gym.

[AnimalMass]

dumbest thing I've ever heard of.

Matt

[Girth]

She's actually got a better strength/weight ratio than some of the guys here. Much respect.

[getswoll]

sounds painfull to me.... I've never seen anyone intentionally do that either. Hold on let me correct; I've never seen any real lifters do that, when I was in college I saw plenty of Frat Boy douches do that, when they actually found the squat rack, to do their quarter squats.... but that's beside the point......


GS

[perp69]

Those numbers are impressive for a 120lb 16yr old, regardless of the crazy foot positioning.

[Phreezer]

Originally Posted by AnimalMass

dumbest thing I've ever heard of.

Matt

agreed... well maybe not the dumbest.. the lactating cat milk refridgerator adapter Matt invented may be the dumbest.. but the foot placement for this girl is definitly up there..

[perp69]

Thought you lifted at home?

[tonyton]

Originally Posted by Bob Smith

I was at the gym today and saw one of the girls squatting with a funny/weird stance. The chick is a pretty good lifter; 16 yrs old, DLs ~305, benches around 140 and squats in the high 200s. She weighs probably 120 pounds.

Anyway, I was watching her and one foot was turned slightly outward (like normal) and the other was like 45 degrees out. \ | <---kinda like that. She clearly rotated her hips and shoulders because of this. Her dad was there, who is a decent lifter, and he said that all the top PLers do this because of some blah blah blah reasons, helps keep your back stable. Now, I immediately thought this was a load of crap and have never seen anyone purposely have a foot position so uneven.

Has anyone heard of this type foot placement? I highly doubt it, but do any top lifters actually do this? AnimalMass, if you read this Id love to hear your thoughts.

Wrong. Anytime you are buliding on an incorect posture you are at risk of injury. Point blank end of story. If she cant do the wieght correctly (feet shoulder width, knees lined up to shoulders. ect..), then she should not be doing loaded squats. She should address the reason why she has to externaly rotate her foot first then continue with her wieght program. She is doing the exersise improperly.

[Parasite]

Don't know the exact foot placement based on the description, best bet is one is pointed out more than the other.

However, there shouldn't be much concern, bad form, risk of injury, blah, blah, blah...

I remember reading about similar techniques 20 years ago. The thought is that it adds more stability training, training the core in today's language. If she was doing it for competition I would be concerned, otherwise, take some weight off the bar, drop the ego and try a set and see what you think for yourself.

[tonyton]

Originally Posted by Parasite

Don't know the exact foot placement based on the description, best bet is one is pointed out more than the other.

However, there shouldn't be much concern, bad form, risk of injury, blah, blah, blah...

I remember reading about similar techniques 20 years ago. The thought is that it adds more stability training, training the core in today's language. If she was doing it for competition I would be concerned, otherwise, take some weight off the bar, drop the ego and try a set and see what you think for yourself.

ok devolop patella tendonitis. very smart. The patella tendon sits in a small groove under the patella. When bad form is present plus a load, then patella tendon slips in and out of this groove. Creating patella tendonitis.

[greyowl]

Originally Posted by tonyton

ok devolop patella tendonitis. very smart. The patella tendon sits in a small groove under the patella. When bad form is present plus a load, then patella tendon slips in and out of this groove. Creating patella tendonitis.

Tonyton, OT, but I've developed a form of patella tendonitis called femoral patellar syndrome from doing too much cardio. Seem to be able to keep it under control with with lots of basic quad and ham stretches. Have any other tips on how to treat it?

[tonyton]

Originally Posted by greyowl

Tonyton, OT, but I've developed a form of patella tendonitis called femoral patellar syndrome from doing too much cardio. Seem to be able to keep it under control with with lots of basic quad and ham stretches. Have any other tips on how to treat it?

Yes OT,

Stay away from any open chain movments. Wich include, and in your case specificaly, leg extentions. Work from hip flexion down the kinetic chain. Next response I will give u a list of exersises.