Dear Mr. Kurz,
I would be grateful if you would be so kind to suggest solutions to a squat problem I am having. I am a 54 year old male martial artist. Kali, Silat, JKD, Jun Fan are just some of the arts I study. I am very disciplined in my lifestyle and training and have been so for many years ( decades). I use as my primary source of strength, flexibility and alignment the Egoscue system which has worked very well for me and helped me make great gains in overcoming injuries, increasing ROM, and much more. I recently purchased and have watched your newest DVD and have followed along up until the squat with your toes and nose in front of the wall. When I go into the squat my lower right back extensor tightens up greatly and although not really painful, it is certainly not what should be happening. It appears that my body is compensating for something, but I am not certain what it is. Improper pelvic mobility, tight mid back?
Namaste,
Guro Eric
Problem with perfect Squat form
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Thomas Kurz
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Re: Problem with perfect Squat form
To find the cause of your lower right back extensors tightening during low squats, you have to know exactly which muscles are tightening. Then you (or better a physiotherapist) will know which ones are likely underactivated and need activation. The tests for muscle activation are manual (require touch), and so are the fixes.
Often asymmetrical tension in lower back is caused by insufficient activity of either the gluteus maximus on the same side or of external oblique on the opposite side, or both. But often doesn't mean always, which is why I advise to use services of people who know to test and correct muscle activation. See article Injuries: Two Models of Treating Sports Injuries.
BTW, did you go through preparatory stretches for the low squat in the Bonus chapter (from 11 minute on)? And how is your deadlift?
Often asymmetrical tension in lower back is caused by insufficient activity of either the gluteus maximus on the same side or of external oblique on the opposite side, or both. But often doesn't mean always, which is why I advise to use services of people who know to test and correct muscle activation. See article Injuries: Two Models of Treating Sports Injuries.
BTW, did you go through preparatory stretches for the low squat in the Bonus chapter (from 11 minute on)? And how is your deadlift?
Thomas Kurz
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Madrej glowie dosc dwie slowie
Re: Problem with perfect Squat form
Dear Mr. Kurz,
Thank you so much for your reply. I did not look yet at the bonus material, but rather was following the DVD from the beginning. I did do the basic squat warmup that was shown previous to the face to the wall squat. I was thinking that my glutes were not activating enough, and yesterday tested that theory out, it did appear to alleviate some
( but not all) of the tightness in my lower right back extensor. Also I did the squats will holding my hand over the trouble spot to see exactly when the tighness first appears.
I have seen a terrific napropath for help in these area's and might revisit him as per your suggestion.
Namaste,
Guro Eric
Thank you so much for your reply. I did not look yet at the bonus material, but rather was following the DVD from the beginning. I did do the basic squat warmup that was shown previous to the face to the wall squat. I was thinking that my glutes were not activating enough, and yesterday tested that theory out, it did appear to alleviate some
( but not all) of the tightness in my lower right back extensor. Also I did the squats will holding my hand over the trouble spot to see exactly when the tighness first appears.
I have seen a terrific napropath for help in these area's and might revisit him as per your suggestion.
Namaste,
Guro Eric