Which footwear for squating?

Hi Quelly,

My initial thought about what you've told me is that you're lifting too much weight. You should, never, I repeat, NEVER continue doing an exercise where part of your body "feel like exploding".

I'm thinking that the sensations you're experiencing with your feet and your hip are related to your body trying to compensate unsuccessfully for the additional weight you've added. I would back off the weight and more gradually progress yourself. Perhaps you've hit a little bit of a plateau?

Hey, doesn't sound good if your experiencing this sensation! U need to listen to your body as it can only take so much before u seriously injure yourself. I normally squat in my socks,as trainers these days usually have to much of a heel to them which will shift your centre of gravity forward, plus they usually restrict normal ankle motion, and if you restrict motion in one joint( ankle complex) then the rest of the joints( knee, hip)have to take up the slack which can lead to problems down the road. I would mobilize the hips and ankles before u squat, really stretch the calfs out as it sounds like u have a problem with dorsiflexion if your putting your weight through the outside of your feet, but again this could be because your going really heavy and your body is compensating. Hope this helps

Quelly

I would ask what position are your feet in when you squat? Are they parallel or turned out. Are you squatting full depth? It’s hard to assess without a visual aid.

Regards to running shoes when squatting; don’t squat in these types shoes they have no support and actually make lifts unstable. As Richard said, socks are a good option or best go and buy a pair of weight lifting shoes that raise the heel and give great support.

You need to earn the right to go heavy. So get the technique and form on point then gradually build the weight. Any educated strength and conditioning coach or PT will get you on the right track, so it is worth the investment to prevent injury

Thanks guys i will take all the info on board.I will stretch and try them without shoes.

Hi Paul

My feet are turned out slightly, after reading your advice i wont squat again in my running trainers.

Thanks

Paul is right get a trainer from your gym to assess your squat for u. Feet turned out will let u go deeper as u get more knee flexion, but may be causing the sensation around the hip region because it's external rotated. Good luck

Hi Quelly,

You seem to be having form problems and should back off for a bit, perfect your form with a much lower weight and then gradually increase the weight, week-on-week, whilst maintaining form. Don't keep banging your head against the wall trying to progress when you have a "misuse" or "overuse" injury!

FOOTWEAR - Don't use running shoes with soft, cushioned heals to squat (or deadlift) heavy!!!!! Good old Converse All Stars have minimal padding at the heel and won't allow the angle of your tibia/fibula to be exaggerated and put strain on knee and hip joints!! Any other shoe that has a flatter and or harder sole will do too. If you want to raise your heels to put more emphasis on the quadraceps, then use hard-soled construction boots or similar.