Squat depth

[Chris Gallo]

Hi, Mark. I am 51 and have been doing the novice program for just over two months. I have had frequent back injuries in the past and the program has already made my back stronger than it has been in 20 years.

I am having great difficulty getting to parallel in my squats, much less past parallel. In an effort to stretch out my hip muscles I have been dwelling at the bottom of each rep, trying to get a bit more depth. It has given me some improvement over time, but in my Tuesday training session this week I pulled one of the muscles in my inner thigh (maybe one of the adductors or the gracilis?) and wasn't able to squat yesterday.

Is there a safer way to stretch out these muscles?

Thanks for your time.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Stance Width in the Squat | Mark Rippetoe

[Chris Gallo]

Stance Width in the Squat | Mark Rippetoe

Thanks. I have narrowed my stanch a few inches and I have also switched shoes to some that have about a 1/2 inch heal rise. I was going barefoot or in totally flat shoes. I am still having trouble getting to full depth but I'm closer. It is also less stressful on the tendons, I think.

[Mark Rippetoe]

See a coach about this. We can correct this in about 5 minutes.

[Chris Gallo]

See a coach about this. We can correct this in about 5 minutes.

Will do. Thanks, much.

[Chris Gallo]

See a coach about this. We can correct this in about 5 minutes.

It took more like 10 minutes, but he was very helpful. I received a lot of good feedback on all of the lifts. I think I'm all set for now. Thanks, much, Mark.