Mobility issues impacting squat?

[zepled37]

Rip,

I don't have trouble hitting proper depth in my squats and my form is pretty good, but I'm still wondering if some mobility issues could be holding back my squat? Have you run into this causing a lack of squat progress before?

I'm guessing you're going to say if form is ok and depth is good, this is a crock or other reasons are more likely, but...

It's been a while since I've felt comfortable in my squats. I go through a pretty extensive warm-up...generally 30 minutes including some walking and other mobility movements and also a fair number of warm ups sets, but I don't usually feel loose until after a heavy set or two. In most of my workouts I feel best (from a mobility standpoint) at the end. This is especially true if I do deadlifts. There seems to be something about deadlifts that really help loosen me up.

Last Friday, I decided to try doing rack pulls first and squats last and felt better and stronger than I have in a long time on the squats. I know this is probably not the best idea to do all the time, but I think the reason I felt better was from being more warmed up and more mobile even if I might have been fatigued in the legs and back somewhat.

How bad is it to do pulling movements (deadlifts) first?

I guess the better option is to modify my warm up routine, but I think it would take an hour or an extra 5 or 10 warm-up sets of squats to get the same effect and this just seems silly. Mobility work on off days would be another obvious idea.

Any other suggestions or thoughts with this problem?

Thanks a lot.

[Mark Rippetoe]

You seem to like the word "mobility." I think you may have conflated the terms "warm" and 'mobile." If your ROM is normal, the sensational you are describing is pretty subjective, in that it doesn't seem to be actually affecting anything but your perception. How old are you, are you sleeping enough, and what do you weigh?

[zepled37]

You seem to like the word "mobility." I think you may have conflated the terms "warm" and 'mobile." If your ROM is normal, the sensational you are describing is pretty subjective, in that it doesn't seem to be actually affecting anything but your perception. How old are you, are you sleeping enough, and what do you weigh?

Warm and mobile are fine terms that work for me and probably describe what I'm feeling. ROM on squats are normal, but I'm sure that I've lost some flexibility in my hips, hamstrings and quads over the years.

I'm 33 and weigh just over 200 pounds at about 5'9". Sleep is pretty decent.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Maybe you should drink more coffee before you train.

[cjangelo]

Maybe you should drink more coffee before you train.

You train evenings, right? How the hell do you sleep?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Bourbon and rye blunt the effects.