does your lower back hurt when squatting?

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (scruffy)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:15:00 GMT

The Main Man

When I go heavy on squats I get a sore lower back, this is an old injury though (believe it or not it happened putting my trainers in my gym bag).

To lessen the impact, i;ve started doing squats on the Smith Machine, seems to take the tension off your lower back, and force it onto the Quads.

Plus with Smith Machine squats there is less chance of cheating, forces to keep your back straight.

Also, I no longer wear a Weight Training belt, I think this has done more harm than good, as above it takes away the strength built up in your core.

Give it a go and see what you think.

i disagree with the belt bit, the belt is there for you to push your abs against to aid in strengthening the core...smith machine squats put your body in an unatural position as you are guided by the machine and not correct technique, use hack squat machines for foccusing on quads where your back is supported, but on a smith you are waiting for an injury to happen IMO

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (scruffy)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:11:27 GMT

22jasper

English.muscle

your asking for trouble if you squat heavy with something under your heels mate! Just learn to sqaut properly

ATM I squat A2G, but i have poor ankle flexibility,hence the board. When I squat heavy I use no board but go just below parallel, technique is fine, doubt i'd be able rep out otherwise!

Like i said in my original post, the board just seems to alleviate the lower back pump and forward correction. Besides the board is cheaper than squat boots.

you need to work on flexibility ,,,what english muscle has pointed is correct, there is never ever any need to raise the heels,,,,,it is just putting your body way out of position, if it is hurting going full depth then just go parallel and rep...

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (scruffy)

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:07:02 GMT

English.muscle

illegal?? better watch out for those gym police!!

what sort of pain.....pumped or injury pain?
If your lower back is pumped then your probably leaning forward to much as you go down. Sit back on your heels, look up and keep your elbows under the bar.
If its a sharp pain, youve probably injured something

very correct........tbh as pointed out you should not be getting pain or pump in the lower back..

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (The Main Man)

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:04:43 GMT

English.muscle

quadzilla smith machine squats are **** and so is your advice!

jasper thats fine, what ever makes you happy

Message edited - apologies to moderators
Shouldnt have typed what I did, just got me angry that you have to be correct all the time and abusive with it.
Listen if its worked for me fine, if it doesnt work for anyone else then thats fine also.
But my advice is alot better than yours......as you havent offered any.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (iaink)

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:14:58 GMT

This is another thread were you, English.muscle, have been unessacarly abusive and aggressive towards other MT members. Consider this a 'friendly' warning. My collegues may wish to take this further.

Further; 'flat pair of shoes' you better tell all the Oly lifters and most IPF lifters their squating wrong.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (English.muscle)

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:44:37 GMT

quadzilla smith machine squats are **** and so is your advice!

jasper thats fine, what ever makes you happy

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (22jasper)

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:49:27 GMT

You use a board for light weights but no board for heavey weights - ok what ever! you learn forward because your not squatting right!

Again,if you took the time to read the post, i never said that i leaned forward during heavy parallel squats, only during low full squats where my ankle flexibility precludes me from a full ROM, this is where the board,right or wrong,IMO, contributes to me not leaning forward whilst allowing me to go as low as possible.

As for squatting properly, I was originally coached in powerlifting techniques to a reasonable standard, but as the years have progressed injury and flexibility issues have arisen,and if by using a board which aids me to get over these issues,helps , then i don't see a problem.

I apologize in advance if this seems to rankle with you.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (The Main Man)

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:50:42 GMT

English.muscle

22jasper

English.muscle

yer ive seen many use this techineque and personally i think its ****.
you need a flat pair of shoes with no heel when squatting. trainers are no good.
if your leaning forward then it means your not sitting back on your heels enough. This will alleviate the additional stress your placing on your lower back and will reduce back pumps.
I always squat to parallel

I think you need to re read my post and get the bit where i mentioned ankle flexibility. Like i said the13 mm board helps with the poor flexibility in my ankles(previous injuries) and prevents tne natural tendency to lean forward when doing full,low squats.

You use a board for light weights but no board for heavey weights - ok what ever!
you learn forward because your not squatting right!

Mate smith machine squats are ****ing ****! try squat 300kg with no belt and see what happens!!

Listen, the lad has said he has a sore lower back, so I have gave him an option to try that has worked for me. Also without a belt, it strengthens your core, which includes your lower back. All belts do is give you stability, and take away that strength in the core of your body, as wearing a belt with deadlifts does.

Obviously if you find that smith machine squats are rubbish, then you must have been doing them wrong. Exactly the same movement as regular squats but you cannot cheat. It forces you to be in the correct position, no cheating, and as a matter of fact, how can they be rubbish, if most of my size on my quads has come from doing squats on a smith machine.

Also without a belt I can squat 200kg, for 6 reps, and its only my legs that give way, not my back.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (English.muscle)

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:36:34 GMT

22jasper

English.muscle

yer ive seen many use this techineque and personally i think its ****.
you need a flat pair of shoes with no heel when squatting. trainers are no good.
if your leaning forward then it means your not sitting back on your heels enough. This will alleviate the additional stress your placing on your lower back and will reduce back pumps.
I always squat to parallel

I think you need to re read my post and get the bit where i mentioned ankle flexibility. Like i said the13 mm board helps with the poor flexibility in my ankles(previous injuries) and prevents tne natural tendency to lean forward when doing full,low squats.

You use a board for light weights but no board for heavey weights - ok what ever!
you learn forward because your not squatting right!

Mate smith machine squats are ****ing ****! try squat 300kg with no belt and see what happens!!

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (22jasper)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:48:22 GMT

English.muscle

yer ive seen many use this techineque and personally i think its ****.
you need a flat pair of shoes with no heel when squatting. trainers are no good.
if your leaning forward then it means your not sitting back on your heels enough. This will alleviate the additional stress your placing on your lower back and will reduce back pumps.
I always squat to parallel

I think you need to re read my post and get the bit where i mentioned ankle flexibility. Like i said the13 mm board helps with the poor flexibility in my ankles(previous injuries) and prevents tne natural tendency to lean forward when doing full,low squats.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (The Main Man)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:44:26 GMT

When I go heavy on squats I get a sore lower back, this is an old injury though (believe it or not it happened putting my trainers in my gym bag).

To lessen the impact, i;ve started doing squats on the Smith Machine, seems to take the tension off your lower back, and force it onto the Quads.

Plus with Smith Machine squats there is less chance of cheating, forces to keep your back straight.

Also, I no longer wear a Weight Training belt, I think this has done more harm than good, as above it takes away the strength built up in your core.

Give it a go and see what you think.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (English.muscle)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:26:00 GMT

yer ive seen many use this techineque and personally i think its ****.
you need a flat pair of shoes with no heel when squatting. trainers are no good.
if your leaning forward then it means your not sitting back on your heels enough. This will alleviate the additional stress your placing on your lower back and will reduce back pumps.
I always squat to parallel

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (22jasper)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:56:12 GMT

English.muscle

your asking for trouble if you squat heavy with something under your heels mate! Just learn to sqaut properly

ATM I squat A2G, but i have poor ankle flexibility,hence the board. When I squat heavy I use no board but go just below parallel, technique is fine, doubt i'd be able rep out otherwise!

Like i said in my original post, the board just seems to alleviate the lower back pump and forward correction. Besides the board is cheaper than squat boots.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (English.muscle)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:45:22 GMT

your asking for trouble if you squat heavy with something under your heels mate! Just learn to sqaut properly

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (22jasper)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:52:59 GMT

My lower back gets amazing pumps after deep squats, though not pain in the injury sense, its still bloody well uncomfortable. I Have since started using a batten underneath the heels and this seems to lessen the pump, plus it helps with driving through the heels and preventing that lean forward.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (English.muscle)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:37:52 GMT

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (loudmouth)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:44:56 GMT

English.muscle

illegal?? better watch out for those gym police!!

That was hyperbole, but the point is get your form correct.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (English.muscle)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:10:18 GMT

illegal?? better watch out for those gym police!!

what sort of pain.....pumped or injury pain?
If your lower back is pumped then your probably leaning forward to much as you go down. Sit back on your heels, look up and keep your elbows under the bar.
If its a sharp pain, youve probably injured something

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (loudmouth)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:09:50 GMT

If your back hurts when doing squats :-

1. You could be rounding your lower back when doing squats which is illegal and you need to correct your form.
2. You lack hip flexibility.

Re:does your lower back hurt when squatting? (Drop_Set)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:18:48 GMT

i had that problem when i first started out, just work on strenghtening your core.