So basically I’m not trying to get out of squating. My problem is ever since I was young I’ve had very tight achilles tendons. This has forced me to walk on my toes and then heels… rather than heels to toes. When I bend down for squats, my heels can not stay on the ground, throwing my body forward and unable to squat even the lightest amount of weight.
I can only squat successfully in the smith rack. My gym unfortunately doesn’t have a Hack Squat either. So my question is… what to do??? Do I continue to squat in the smith machine??? or do you have any ideas for me.
[quote]Dont Want None wrote:
So basically I’m not trying to get out of squating. My problem is ever since I was young I’ve had very tight achilles tendons. This has forced me to walk on my toes and then heels… rather than heels to toes. When I bend down for squats, my heels can not stay on the ground, throwing my body forward and unable to squat even the lightest amount of weight.
I can only squat successfully in the smith rack. My gym unfortunately doesn’t have a Hack Squat either. So my question is… what to do??? Do I continue to squat in the smith machine??? or do you have any ideas for me.
Thanks in advance…[/quote]
Try putting 2.5 lb. weights under your heels when you squat. If that doesn’t work, try 5 lb., etc.
You need to foam roll (self-myofascial release) your tibialis and calf muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius) and probably your vastus medialis organ too. See search function. I promise that, with some stretching, it will solve your problems.
thanks for the help. I will definitely have to give that tennis ball work a try. It’s really frustrating watching other people do countless ab exercises and wasting time, while I’m attempting to Squat and it just doesn’t work.
I’ve been doing stretches and using the tennis ball trick today as well as last night. I can already tell a difference. I’m really close to being able to body squat without leaving my heels. I only squat once a week (yeah give me a hard time :p) so I’m hoping by next week I’ll be able to do a good clean squat.