The use of free weight squats in sports: A narrative review - Squatting movements, adaptation, and sports performance: Physiological
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Volume
38
Issue
8
First Page
1494
Last Page
1508
PubMed ID
39072660
Publisher
National Strength and Conditioning Association
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Abstract
Stone, MH, Hornsby, G, Mizuguchi, S, Sato, K, Gahreman, D, Duca, M, Carroll, K, Ramsey, MW, Stone, ME, and Haff, GG. The use of free weight squats in sports: a narrative review - squatting movements, adaptation, and sports performance: physiological. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): 1494-1508, 2024 - The squat and its variants can provide numerous benefits including positively affecting sports performance and injury prevention, injury severity reduction, and rehabilitation. The positive benefits of squat are likely the result of training-induced neural alterations and mechanical and morphological adaptations in tendons, skeletal muscles, and bones, resulting in increased tissue stiffness and cross-sectional area (CSA). Although direct evidence is lacking, structural adaptations can also be expected to occur in ligaments. These adaptations are thought to beneficially increase force transmission and mechanical resistance (e.g., resistance to mechanical strain) and reduce the likelihood and severity of injuries. Adaptations such as these, also likely play an important role in rehabilitation, particularly for injuries that require restricted use or immobilization of body parts and thus lead to a consequential reduction in the CSA and alterations in the mechanical properties of tendons, skeletal muscles, and ligaments. Both volume and particularly intensity (e.g., levels of loading used) of training seem to be important for the mechanical and morphological adaptations for at least skeletal muscles, tendons, and bones. Therefore, the training intensity and volume used for the squat and its variations should progressively become greater while adhering to the concept of periodization and recognized training principles.
DOI
10.1519/JSC.0000000000004838
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
Stone, M. H., Hornsby, G., Mizuguchi, S., Sato, K., Gahreman, D., Duca, M., ... & Haff, G. G. (2024). The use of free weight squats in sports: A narrative review—Squatting movements, adaptation, and sports performance: Physiological. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 38(8), 1494-1508. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004838