These Tips On Squat Exercises will help you improve your squats and inform you on how to target different muscles in the thighs by changing the…

• angles of your feet and
• weight on your feet.

Full Range Of Motion

One of the biggest mistakes in performing a squat is not using a full range of motion of your legs. You will see someone perform this exercise a quarter of the way of its full range of motion or at best, half way. When I say doing a squat to its full range of motion, I do not mean go all the way down to the ground. To get the full benefit of the squat, you need to go a little past the point of parallel of where your abs are positioned to the ground.

Leaning Forward

Never lean forward when performing squat exercises. This will kill your lower back. Always keep your back up straight and it is even wise to wear a weight lifting belt if you are lifting a heavy amount of weight.

Front Squat

One way to minimize the risk of a lower back injury is to perform a front squat. This is where the barbell is placed in front of you, resting on your shoulders and chest. It will force you to stand up straight because of the placement of the barbell.

Speed Of Movement

When you lower your body for squat exercises, never drop down quickly. This will destroy your knees. Always perform the squat slowly and under control.

Placement Of Your Weight

The placement of the weight on your feet determines what muscles in the thigh will be stressed.

If you put a lot of the weight on the balls of your feet when you perform the squat, you will activate more of the quadriceps muscles.

If you put more of the weight on the heel of your foot when you perform the squat, you will target more of the hamstrings.

Position Of Your Feet

The final tip on these squat exercises is the position of your feet. If you keep your feet straight, you will work the outer quadriceps. The more you angle your feet outward, the more stress will be put on your inner quadriceps.

Henry Chervenka