If you only care about hypertrophy stick to machines. Hack squat, leg press, leg curls, leg extensions will give you all the gains you need. Maybe add some RDLs for more hamstrings and glutes. |
You will notice especially at first that front squats can cause considerable stress on the wrists and elbows. |
I don't get this thread. Find another way.
As we age find another hobby that involves getting outside and maybe your wife or husband. Do something rad. Climb a mountain, ride a bike around some national park, go to banff. Why on earth would you ever have sought hypertrophy gains outside of body building anyways. Especially to the cost of your health. So dumb. So lame. Nobody GAF. |
These things are not mutually exclusive. Gym takes 1-1.5 hours 3-5 times a week, which leaves plenty of time for other things. And lifting is very important for aging women to prevent muscle loss and osteoporosis. You don’t have to do back squats, but everyone should be doing some sort of resistance training. Walking outside is nice but does not give you quite the same benefits. |
+1 I wear wrist wraps for them. |
Obviously a lot of us do. I go hiking and biking with my husband but I still do HIIT classes with lifting because I love it. You do you. |
The chances of being injured or killed riding a bike or climbing a mountain are exponentially higher than the chances of being injured or killed doing back squats, but yeah find another hobby. ![]() |
I think front squat, as well as, goblet squats are great for someone who struggles with back squats. Both require naturally bracing your core a lot more. You should brace your core in back squats as well but it is easier to get away with not doing so, loading the bar too heavy and bending your back.
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yes, because this is so easy and accessible ![]() and this is coming from someone who's family vacations are typically very active and centered around a national park with lots of hiking/backpacking. However, on a daily basis I exercise at the gym to stay in shape for climbing mountains. |
Love a goblet squat
Hate a front squat It's all about form and which one you can stay in good form while doing. |
I think this is a big reason people get injure doing back squats. With back squats it is easier to load the bar with a weight you aren't ready for. People let ego get in the way and try lifting more than they should vs. building up to back squats with amongst other exercises, goblet squats first. There is also more than strength that is important for squats, including, hip and ankle mobility, and strength of accessory muscles like abdominals and hip flexors. |
How do squats holding dumbbells by your side compare to front squats and back squats? |
They’re still good, the limiting factor is what size dumbbell your hands can grip, which is going to be less than what your arms or back could support using a bar. |
The problem is they once you start to get strong, loading up 225 or even 250 lbs is nothing. It can even be warmup weights. But 225 lbs is still 225 lbs, which in the realm of physics is still a lot of mass. All it takes is one mistake doing a million reps with small weight like 225 to get injured, because it is simply the physics and biomechanics of placing 225 lbs on you back which transfers a lot of it to your lower back. Front squats are a lot safer on the lower back because it places the center of mass more over your thighs on the squat down. Your upper back will tire out and roll forward for a front squat which is no real foul becue all you'll do is drop the weight. Contrast that to the back squat where if you get fatigued you can get a lazy lower back or hunch forward too much. Kiss you discs good bye. |
Depends on your body type. DW is built for back squats and I’m built for front squats. |