How can an exercise be considered “the best” movement for fat loss and muscle gain, and also be avoided by many of the world’s smartest trainers?<\/p>\n
That’s the case with the traditional back squat. One of the most well-known and timeless exercises, and also one of the most controversial.<\/p>\n
No matter how you view the back squat, squatting is an essential movement, regardless of whether you perform it with weight on your back.<\/p>\n
Most of the disagreements focus on the safety of the movement. Some people believe that it’s too easy to get hurt doing squats. And, if you’re avoiding them, odds are you’re either worried about the same outcome or already have experienced some injury or pain while performing them.<\/p>\n
If\u00a0you’re not doing some variation of the squat, you’re training plan is most likely flawed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We like to look at things a different way: if you can’t sit down (which is what squatting is) without hurting yourself, then the worst thing you can do is avoid the movement entirely.<\/p>\n
Whether you want to squat with a weight on your back is up to you, but don’t let that stop you from cleaning up little mistakes that are causing pain or limiting your workouts.<\/p>\n
If you want to move better, and see better results from your workouts, here are simple ways to ensure you don’t get hurt while doing one of the most fundamental human movements.<\/p>\n