One of the main reasons for this is shorter moment arms, and easier work conditions for hamstrings, gluteus, and adductor muscles ( Glassbrook et al., 2017). The low bar back squat is recommended when the main objective is to lift as heavy as possible ( Glassbrook et al., 2019).
Equally, the high bar is favored by Olympic weightlifters to simulate the catch position of the Olympic weightlifting competition lifts, the clean, snatch, and jerk ( Wretenberg et al., 1996). In powerlifting contests, the low bar barbell squat is primarily used, with a few exceptions, where the high bar back squat is used. During the high bar back squat, the barbell is placed across the upper trapezius, while in the low bar back squat, the barbell is placed along the mid trapezius, using the posterior deltoids as a supportive “shelf” for the bar ( Wretenberg et al., 1996). There are two main barbell placements in the back squat: high bar and low bar. After this, the lifter reverts this movement, standing upright by extending the hips, knees, and ankles ( Schoenfeld, 2010 Kompf and Arandjelovic, 2017). Full barbell back squats are performed by flexing the hips and knees and lowering the body until the top surface of the legs at the hip joints are lower than the top of the knees, essentially sitting down, while keeping the feet flat on the ground, chest up, and spine in neutral according to International Powerlifting Federation rules ( International Powerlifting Federation, 2020). Thus, when the goal is to maximally activate knee extensors and the external load is matched, high bar placement would appear preferable.īarbell back squats are a commonly used exercise within general fitness programs, and as an event within the sport of powerlifting, they are often included in rehabilitation programs for the lower body ( Kompf and Arandjelovic, 2017). When depth and stance width were matched, the low bar technique was associated with lower erector spinae and quadriceps activity than the high bar technique. Furthermore, the gluteus maximus and medius had increased muscle activity over the three regions (pre-sticking > sticking > post-sticking), while the erector spinae, soleus, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris experienced decreased muscle activity during the ascending phase. Increased muscle activity in the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and lower part of the erector spinae with the high bar, when compared with low bar conditions, was recorded. No differences in barbell and joint kinematics were observed in any phase, between both barbell modalities. The final repetition was analyzed using 3D kinematics and electromyography (EMG) around the sticking region. In a single session, participants performed 5RM movements using high bar and low bar squats, where absolute load, descent depth, and stance width were matched between squat conditions. Ten healthy medium- to well-trained male powerlifters with at least 3 years of resistance-training experience were recruited. The current study investigated the effects of barbell placement on kinematics and muscle activity during the sticking region of back squats. Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.Roland van den Tillaar *, Tom Roar Knutli and Stian Larsen
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