The squat is a challenging exercise, but is fundamental to building strength. There are many types of squats, but today we are going to focus on the basic barbell back squat. There is proper mechanics for the squat, but it may look different depending on the body type. For example things look very different for those of you with a longer torso, and shorter femur vs others with the opposite proportions. 

Today I want to focus on the importance of good hip and ankle mobility during the squat. If you tend to get knee pain while squatting you likely don’t have a knee problem. When it comes to squatting the hips and ankles require a good range of motion, or your knees might take some unnecessary strain.

A good physical therapy assessment will include a mobility assessment for the knees, hips, and ankles. This allows us to look at the entire chain, and fix the necessary deficits. If you are interested in learning more about squat technique we would be happy to schedule a free mobility assessment.