Squat Progression for Older Lifters

[Leeuwer]

Mark,

My mother, who is a very wise woman, recently started weight training. She turns 60 this year.

She wants to squat, deadlift and press as she had good results with that in the past.
A year ago she cut down her recovery time from a wrist surgery significantly while training the three lifts three times a week. She quit, but now wants to begin again.

Here's the thing:

She cannot back squat because she cannot hold the bar behind her head.

(shoulder: fully ruptured supraspinatus, partially ruptured infraspinatus, specialist says her muscular strength is extremely good and surgery is not an option. Shoulder replacement is not due for 5-10 more years, at least. Hopefully never.).

I have her do front squatting instead, while her shoulder becomes stronger and hopefully increases in flexibility.

She cannot go down very far yet. Upper thighs are almost parallel to the floor.

For now, I just have her do deadlifts, presses and bodyweight front squats, going deeper on each rep. I have her do the bodyweight front squats every day. Once she can go deep enough comfortably we will add a bar.

I remember you saying you have older/weaker lifters do deadlifts if they cannot squat yet, so their legs get strengthened in the meantime anyway.

Am I dealing with this the right way? How do you progress with older lifters who have no experience with squatting? Her press and deadlift form is fairly good.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I keep a leg press machine here for the purpose of training people in this situation. Can she not do a high-bar position squat yet?

[Leeuwer]

I keep a leg press machine here for the purpose of training people in this situation. Can she not do a high-bar position squat yet?

Alas no. Moving out the grip is not possible either. On shoulder is very immobile in that position. Oddly enough she can press with great form. Also no leg press(home gym), but there are other options, in the mean time.

Do you do anything different when trying to get people more flexible?
I am not trying to have her go overboard on tons of different mobility exercises when probably a deeper bodyweight squat is all she needs to get flexible enough.

[Mark Rippetoe]

It would depend on the cause of her inflexibility. If she has osteoarthritis it may not be correctable.