Ok You Leg Warriors You Talked Me Into Squatting and Now My Lower Back is Killing ME

[curling]

Ya'll dudes talked me into squatting remember I was the guy that didn't squat before. Well, now after I finish my squat sets my lower back is just killing me. What's the deal?

Some more info for you.

I don't do deadlifts should I add those in now since I am squatting for more lower back strength? Or should I do those weird lower back exercises where you lay on your stomach and act a circus seal by lifting your shoulders and head of the floor?

Also I don't go past parallel when I squat.

I do not use a weight belt. Would that help? Only for sure answers here I hate spending money unless I have too.

Thanks.

 

[Belial]

SLDL's.... what's the rest of your split like; I can maybe give you some ideas to build around it...

 

[curling]

4 sets of squats
4 sets of leg presses
3 leg extensions
3 leg curls

 

[fhg43]

curling-
I wouldn't do squats and DLs on the same day until your back is pretty strong. Both exercises are tough on the lower back-I split those 2 on different days. I do lots of back extensions these have helped strengthen my lower back. Get a belt and crank it down tight! The belt makes a huge difference.

If squats are too hard on ya do the leg press and add 25-30% more than you squat weight. Leg Press hits similar muscle groups and IMO isn't as intense as squats. Squats are ideal but leg pressin ain't bad either

FHG

 

[fhg43]

Oh yeah-
I saw your long lost brother at the gym the other day- you know the guy with the chicken legs and huge arms...

Be thankful we talked you into working on your legs; that guy looked goofy!

FHG

 

[gymtime]

If this is the first time you've done squats, then it's likely that your lower back is as weak as your legs. You're going to have to allow yourself some time for it to strengthen. Start out with light weights and make form your priority for now. Same thing with deadlifts if you start doing them, start out real light.

 

[curling]

So dead lifts really do help the lower back strength for squats?

 

[NateDogg]

Make sure you are keeping your back arched when squatting. Don't think of it as squatting, like squatting down...I don't know...how sedentary individuals would describe a squat, like not a lifting squat. Think of squatting as if you have a chair behind you and you are sitting down into it. This helps me keep my knees behind my toes. Also, keep you eyes forward, not down. This should keep your back arched better. Lastly, I agree with fhg43 to a point. Don't do squats and deads on the same day. I have a pretty strong back, but still don't think it would be a good idea to put my body through that. Also, you can't possibly go all out through sets of both in the same day!

NateDogg

 

[gymtime]

So dead lifts really do help the lower back strength for squats?

Absolutely. Once I started doing deads, my lower back got stronger, plus most of my leg lifts went up.

 

[curling]

Ok I'll add to the list of the other dreaded exercises I do on back day.