Squats

squats are the best exercise

0%
absolutely
high confidence
“the king of all exercises according to everyone except knees”
YouTube is full of 75-year-olds who've been squatting for years, with one claiming it built his back squat to 800+ pounds and deadlift to nearly 700. Reddit coaches with PhDs in biomechanics are calling it the ultimate compound movement that develops functional strength and places beneficial load on the skeletal system. the disagreement mostly comes down to form and injuries, with people visiting doctors after bad-form squats and getting told it's the 'dumbest exercise in the world' for destroying knees. basically it's the king of exercises until you do it wrong, then it's the king of physiotherapy appointments.
best comment Reddit · agrees
“Squats are not a good exercise, they are the king of all exercises. A compound movement that develops functional strength, foundational power and places beneficial load on the skeletal system, squats”

what's working

  • Squats place beneficial load on the skeletal system and improve endurance and stamina for activities like mountain hiking.
  • Squats involve a large number of muscle groups simultaneously, making them a compound movement that develops functional strength and foundational power.
  • Regular squat training can lead to significant strength gains, with practitioners reporting back squat progress to 800+ lbs and deadlift gains to nearly 700 lbs.
  • Brief squat sessions can provide meaningful health benefits, with research showing that 10 squats every hour can control blood sugar better than a full 30-minute walk.

what's not

  • Some people find squats to be an extremely difficult and unpleasant exercise that causes significant physical distress.
  • Squats performed with bad form can cause knee injuries, with some people experiencing significant knee pain from improper technique.
  • Squats are not glute-dominant despite popular belief, and other exercises like glute bridges or hip thrusts may be more effective for glute-focused training.
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