[Will]

Do any of you find the high bar squat uncomfortable?

I have just started doing it as I am following the beginner program in Greg Everetts book and I just find it painful on my shoulders unlike the low bar back squat which took me so long to perfect.

Any tips for stopping/not causing pain?

I did get videos of it but haven't got time to upload them right now might be a form issue but after looking at them I think it would be unlikely that the pain I experience is caused by form.

Moved to 'Exercises'
-C.

[Franz29]

I found it really uncomfortable when I was first starting, but I had the pain at the base of the neck. Eventually I just got used to it and it stopped hurting. One thing you need to do, much like the low bar variety, is to really pull your traps back to make a shelf for the bar to sit on so it's not on any soft tissue or bone.

Just quickly searching, I found a good series of tutorials on YouTube (WFS). They were pointed to on Melissa Byers blog and are pretty informative. Video #4 talks about bar placement which might help you out.

[Will]

Cheers I will check that out tomorrow.

[marcus clarke]

I always do high back squats.

My trick is to place the bar on the back and use a wide hand placement on the bar, almost to the plates. This elevates my traps and forms a 'cushion' for the bar lessening the pressure on the shoulders. Keeping the elbows high also helps me keep the traps high and forms a slight 'trough' for the bar.

works for me, as before i used to keep a normal grip on the bar and this hurt. How is your trap development, this also helps?

Any significant weight will hurt the top of the back but the body adapts to it.

You could always use one of those cushioning wrap around velcro sleeves for the bar too.

[Franz29]

marcus clarke, on Mar 11 2009, 08:00 AM, said:

You could always use one of those cushioning wrap around velcro sleeves for the bar too.

Quietly head slaps Marcus for even suggesting such a thing.....

[marcus clarke]

Franz29, on Mar 11 2009, 09:21 AM, said:

Quietly head slaps Marcus for even suggesting such a thing.....

Apologies, didnt realise that these are a taboo piece of kit. A git girly i know.

I will beast myself this lunch time and bow my head in shame

[Davie]

you could use one of those...as long it matches the colour of your gloves....and your hand bag

[Franz29]

Davie, on Mar 11 2009, 11:52 AM, said:

you could use one of those...as long it matches the colour of your gloves....and your hand bag

They make pink sequinned ones now? Nice, I'm in!

[Davie]

[Will]

Thanks again for those vids had a chance to watch a few yesterday they were pretty informative.

[marcus clarke]

Franz29, on Mar 12 2009, 05:42 PM, said:

They make pink sequinned ones now? Nice, I'm in!

ok point taken, does this mean I have to get rid of my fluffy weight collars too

[Franz29]

marcus clarke, on Mar 13 2009, 08:50 AM, said:

ok point taken, does this mean I have to get rid of my fluffy weight collars too

Nah, you can keep those. AFAIK it's an offence to dispose of or destroy Army issued equipment without due cause

[GuiltyCol]

I gave up on high bar back squats for this very reason. Under anything approaching a worthwhile weight, the bar would rest on one of the vertebrae and hurt like hell. I figured trying to life 100+kg with my spine wasn't a good idea. Add to that the fact that I could squat more in the low bar BS position and could do front squats for specific clean practice, I didn't see the point of them.

[Johny Cash]

Can I just show this Davie before you talk about gloves and handbags.

[Ben]

Johny Cash, on Mar 18 2009, 07:26 PM, said:

Can I just show this Davie before you talk about gloves and handbags.

hahahahahah
i think thats 1 - 0 to Johny.

[Davie]

but my armwarmers are not a training aid, just a fashion statement

[Johny Cash]

Davie, on Mar 18 2009, 11:22 PM, said:

but my armwarmers are not a training aid, just a fashion statement

Aye but you look no where near as good as Melissa Buyers does wearing them.