Squats - question for the knowledgeable

[teamfatboy]

OK, here's one for the more general gym-goers...

I was at the gym this evening and saw a PT putting a client through a routine. Teaching her BB squats, he grabbed one of the stiff-foam half-pipes which they have for stretching and rolling (cross-section of a semi-circle, like half a foam roller)... to put her heels on.

Question: why would you do squats with an unstable compressible surface under your heels ?

Is there a valid reason - for the average gym-goer ?

Raising the heels is fine - no debate about that, but normal folks would use a couple of plates, not something squishy ?.

It seemed the point of the foam was to throw weight onto the ball of her foot, rather than sit-back and drive thru the whole foot.

She did the squats well - good depth by general standards - with a bare Oly bar, but I'm wondering what she gained from the technique.

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

i guess its possible that PT just wanted to help with raising the heel and didn't consider that its compressible

[nate225]

Targetting stabilisers maybe? :shifty:

However when something looks like shit, smells like shit & if you've got the fortitude tastes like shit....nomimsayin?! :pfft: :grin:

[Ninja]

I cant see a logical reason for it, im guessing the pt wanted to throw something under her heals and grabbed the closest thing available?

[vracula]

there are more people training to be in the circus then training for strength in the gym these days.Only matter of time before they start juggling their dumbbells .

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

there are more people training to be in the circus then training for strength in the gym these days.Only matter of time before they start juggling their dumbbells .

:clap:

[nate225]

^^ To quote the infamous PMan,

Oh lordy!

[Optimass]

no benefit to new client - I wouldnt elevate a newb at the heel as it will force them onto the balls of their feet. Untrained people do this instinctively.

Soemtimes clients will say they experience discomfort trying to squat without a wedge but I would make them keep going until the achive parallel through adjusting their technique. More beneficial in the long run.

...

Lol at the bosu ball exercise. Tell me this - how much more benficial would a standing military press superset with a squat be for you. Stable base + more resistance = stronger muscles and faster development. Swiss and bosu balls were invented to assist average trainers in trying to sell exercise to people who don't actually want to work hard for results .... almost as bad as following your client around with a fucken clipboard and counting out each rep. (come at me brahs :pfft: )

[vracula]

no benefit to new client - I wouldnt elevate a newb at the heel as it will force them onto the balls of their feet. Untrained people do this instinctively.

Soemtimes clients will say they experience discomfort trying to squat without a wedge but I would make them keep going until the achive parallel through adjusting their technique. More beneficial in the long run.

...

Lol at the bosu ball exercise. Tell me this - how much more benficial would a standing military press superset with a squat be for you. Stable base + more resistance = stronger muscles and faster development. Swiss and bosu balls were invented to assist average trainers in trying to sell exercise to people who don't actually want to work hard for results .... almost as bad as following your client around with a fucken clipboard and counting out each rep. (come at me brahs :pfft: )

Fucken aye!!

[Calvin]

Just because you might need to squat during an earthquake..

[HarryB]

Just because you might need to squat during an earthquake..

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

[nate225]

Just because you might need to squat during an earthquake..

Brilliant - new name "Canterbury Squats" :grin:

[Shutupandsquat]

Just because you might need to squat during an earthquake..

Repped.

Of course, if an earthquake hits, and you're squatting; naturally you'd finish your set.