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Thread: replacing squats with... lunges? machines? help. while back heals

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    22

    Default replacing squats with... lunges? machines? help. while back heals

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    Got a back ouchie. Can't do any type of squat. Can still deadlift for some reason, if lighter by 10-20kg. Pulls from around the knee height are affected less. Looking at a couple of weeks to a month of back pain and inability to squat. Been thinking to sub what used to be a squat workout with a lighter deadlift workout and add lunges and machines, something like this:

    A: hyperextensions, attempts at squatting, upper body training
    B: deadlifts 5x3, 1x12, bb/db lunges 5x5?, leg press and or hack squat machine 3x8-20?, hyperextensions, cable hip pull throughs 3x12-20?

    AxBxAxBx ....

    I've no idea if this would help me retain/improve squatting strength, and generally have no idea what to do, because my lowerbody workouts used to look pretty much like squats, deadlifts, and also lighter squats and deadlifts + some glute stuff.

    Currently at 240kg squat 260kg deadlift or so before getting injured, feels like early intermediate going into intermediate territory.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Carroll, IA
    Posts
    209

    Default

    "back ouchie" is incredibly vague. What type of injury was diagnosed?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    22

    Default

    Kyle, thanks for replying.

    I haven't been to a doc. Would prefer to avoid the hassle associated with that because it doesn't feel like a serious injury, or an injury to the spine. It's a dull pain to the left and right of the lumbar vertebrae that flares up either at the bottom of the squat or (much less, barely worth noting) when I power clean heavy or make a sudden sharp movement (like slipping on ice). It goes away immediately after ceasing the movement. When I deadlift I don't feel pain but body just refuses to lift normal weight, and I don't force it. Pain doesn't radiate anywhere, and is localized. Feels like a mild erector spinae problem.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Garage of GainzZz
    Posts
    3,297

    Default

    What do your squats look like? Smells like a form problem.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    22

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    My squats are pretty terrible (knees caving in, back rounding to hit depth, falling forward), but I haven't experienced any persistent pain before so figured it's within permissible parameters. I still feel that my back pain is a result of life stresses that piled up in the previous month and excessively eager and frequent deadlifting that same month. That said I'm working on my hamstring flexibility to fix back rounding and working on hip flexibility & medial glute strength to fix knees caving in.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    22

    Default

    Also Satch thanks for replying

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Posts
    81

    Default

    Any squat as in a squat with just the bar or even a bodysquat?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Murphysboro, IL
    Posts
    726

    Default

    Maybe hip belt squats.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Wichita Falls, Texas
    Posts
    2,414

    Default

    Get a coach and squat. Backs get better faster with squats.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    3,769

    Default

    starting strength coach development program
    Find a weight you can squat properly. Maybe it's just the bar. Do that. Titrate the weight over time as you can.

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