Essentials of the proper SQUAT:

The majority of the patients seen at the office work out – whether they are weekend warriors, training for weight lifting competitions or anywhere in between – faulty squats tend to be the driving force in injuries and a key insight into the overall biomechanics of the body. The typical squat (without added weight) can yield considerable amounts of valuable, clinically relevant information.

A normal squat will have these characteristics:

• Symmetry: the patient will not swerve to one side
• The heels and the toes will remain on the ground; the feet will not rotate
• The knees will not travel forward of the toes
• Lumbar lordosis will be maintained throughout the squat
• The head will remain up and neutral to slightly extended, but not flexed or hyperextended
• Hip and knee motion should be fluid, pain-free and demonstrate movement throughout the ranges required to perform a squat
• The knees should descend in alignment with the tibias and not travel medially

The take home message is that motions that we do on a daily basis (getting in and out of the car, sitting in a chair, accessing items from the floor or shelves, using the commode) or motions that we perform in order to make our bodies healthier can tell us a lot about bodily biomechanics. The squat is a functional movement complex used in many activities of daily living. The information your chiropractor receives from your squat gives a more clear diagnosis of muscles that need to be stretched or strengthened and joints that may need a manipulation.

If you have a particular question that wasn’t directly answered or you are ready to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to call the office at (716) 335-9711.