squat form for tall guys

Hey!

So, I'm drinking my milk and doing my squats like a good lil' boy.

But I still have questions on form. After reading a zillion posts and many articles, it seems like there's more contradictions than answers.

One thing in particular is the whole 'knees over toes' thing. This seems like an impossibility for me. I suspect it's because I'm tall (6'3' with long shins, femurs and a long torso as well.

Now, I've seen my form in the mirror and my back is straight, my toes are pointed slightly outward, and my butt doesn't stick out too much. During the actual squat, most of the effort seems to be concentrated in the front of my thighs, except when I'm coming back up (I go deep) where I can feel it in my hips and a little bit in my butt. And, of course, these are the areas where I feel sore the next day. There's no pain in my lower back, spine, knees, etc. So I figure that my form must not be attrocious.

Yet, most of the time when I squat, my knees will extend beyond my toes about one inch or maybe a little more. I've tried working on this...even standing against a wall to make sure my knees and toes can't go past the same point. About 4 inches into the squat, it feels like I'm going to fall backwards.

I really want to have good form as that will prevent future injuries.

How important is the 'don't let your knees go past your toes' rule?

Where should I be feeling the effects of the squat? I've heard I shouldn't be feeling any butt-pain the next day.

I've heard people say that curling ones toes is a good idea...why is that?

Does squat form vary depending on height?

Thanks!

Unless your stance is fairly wide, your knees will go in front of your toes. Don't worry about it, just make sure they track _over_ your toes.

If you decide to widen into more of a powerlifting type squat, take it a little at a time to give your hips and everything else not being hit hard right now a chance to catch up.

spodosaurus siad:

Correct bar placement is:

A) On top of traps

Just below the traps

C) On rear delts

D) On upper back

E) None of the above

Your form sounds fine. Make sure your knees go on the same path as your toes. I had problems at the beginning, but flexibility will improve with time. My form felt better with a very protruding rear, and closer stance, going quite deep. The powerlifting squat doesn't feel as good on my knees. At the beginning I tried the curling toes thing. It does help while you're learning not to push from the toes - but mor from the arch and heel area.

Ultimately you will have your own form. If you start light, concentrate on going deep, push from the rear half of your foot, look either straight ahead or slightly up (not too high), keep you spine it's normal supine shape, bend at the hips, make sure knees follow toes, don't buckle knees in on the way up, maybe push butt out a bit further, and don't accelerate on the way down or bounce at the bottom, maintain high intra-abdominal pressure, exhale on the way up, choose a comfortable bar-back position for your body, then you should be okay. Get used to it then move up weight slowly. Check your ego at the door. You'll do fine. Oh, yeah, this is contraveresial, but I'd do a good warmup with just the bar, or light weights, and NOT STRETCH your quads/knees.

Your squat will be as unique as your body.

HTH

Do weak adductors cause you're knees to turn in during squats??

YES

Mike Brookman

They do?? How?