question on squats

[robbase]

Even after I am warmed up, I have trouble going "low" on my first rep or 2 while squatting, by the 3rd one I usually get as deep as I want, but have trouble with the first 2 reps getting deep....is this normal?

I would have thought just the opposite, that the first reps I would have a lot of energy / power and later on it would be harder to go deep (more tired later)...

so am I "normal" squatter, or is this a mental thing with not being able to go deep in the first reps for me?

[chiver78]

I don't know about whether that's normal or not, but having done enough squats and lunges to cause chondromalacia (runner's knee) in both knees, I can speak from my own experience. you really don't want to go any lower than a 90-degree angle of your knee on any squat. please don't hurt yourself.

as far as your range of motion, to me it would seem that it's taking you a while to warm yourself up. are you doing any dynamic stretching before you start your squats?

[tractor]

I would guess it's more of a mental thing. On your first one you are thinking, am I going far enough down? Can I get back up? Why am I doing this again? After that, you get your mind back into it and it seems to go much better. I usually do three or four reps with just the bar before I get started to remind myself why I am there.

[robbase]

Tractor, yeah, I warm up before that too, but still have issues even after I warm up.

Chiver, I don't really stretch much, just like 2 minutes or so

[chiver78]

Sept 19, 2011 12:35:23 GMT -5 @robbase said:

Chiver, I don't really stretch much, just like 2 minutes or so

I'll bet you're doing static stretching then, too. ideally, you want to do your static stretching at the end of your workout. walk us through a "warm up stretching" for you if you don't mind, please.

[robbase]

I do some toe touches, thigh stretches, calf stretches, and attempted splits (not even close to a real split, but I try)