The barbell back squat has become very popular over years, heavily influenced by social media, leading many people to believe that it is an essential part of your routine if you want to get stronger. So, let’s look into this a little further.
Squats and deadlifts are two movements that we should all be doing. One way or another, we perform them daily: for example, getting up and down from a seated position, or picking something up off the floor, however heavy the item may be. So, it makes sense that this is a movement pattern that needs to be strong, and training correctly will do just that.
Both the back squat and the deadlift using a barbell are exercises used not only by powerlifters in their training and competitions but also by many people who have been working out over a long period. Undeniably, they make you stronger. But notice that I said people who have been working out for a long time. They are great exercises, but they are fairly technical ones and they require stability throughout the body, from the shoulders and torso down to the hips, knees and ankles.
Only a handful of the people I train perform these exercises, and they have been training a while and are relatively free from injury. This is something you can work towards if you want to, but you can easily perform a squat or a deadlift that isn’t barbell-loaded. This strengthens the movements but with a much lower risk of potential injury.
What you shouldn’t do is walk into a gym for the first time and do these exercises. You wouldn’t walk into a boxing club and step into the ring on your first day: if you did, you’d get hurt. Like the boxing gym, the barbell squat and deadlift should be considered in the top tier of exercises—and for many it may not even be necessary at all.
See you next time