Squat 101 | Part 1 - Front vs Back Squat
Legs are a neglected muscle group by many for one reason - it requires a bigger effort to train them
However, legs form one half of our body and it is really important to train them for two reasons:
The squat is undoubtedly one of the best compound movements to build strength in our legs and make them grow
Furthermore, it is used by novices, intermediaries, and advanced lifters to reach their goals.
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Yet, there are a couple of different variations of the traditional squat, and today we are delving deeper into them.
What Is the Difference Between Front and Back Squat?
As we mentioned above, squats require a lot of effort and concentration.
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Whether you are doing a front or back squat you have to be prepared physically and mentally to get under the bar.
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The main differences between the two are in the position of the bar and the primary muscles targeted.
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By changing the position of the bar our torso also changes positions when performing each one of the squats.
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The Front Squat targets the quadriceps, the adductors, the glutes, the core, and also the upper back (upper trapezius) of the trainee, however, your hamstrings are NOT significantly contributing to the movement.
The exercises can be used as a primary leg movement OR it can be used as an assisting exercise.
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The Back Squat on the other side puts our torso in a more horizontally position and allows a bigger range of motion.
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The Back Squat can be done with either a High Bar or Low Bar variation, which I’ll discuss in more detail in Part 2 of this series.
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That aside, the Back Squat targets the quadriceps, the hamstrings, the glutes, the lower back, the upper back.
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In other words, the whole body is engaged when performing a back squat.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the front squat puts less pressure on your lower back.
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This is because when we perform a front squat we are leaning forward less, compared to the back squat.
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Now, that doesn’t mean the back squat is more dangerous for your lumbar spine.
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When executed perfectly, the back squat can only strengthen your lower back and it is the same for the front squat.
?But you probably wonder...
Which One Is Better for Growing Your Legs?
There is no one better exercise than others.
?In general, if you are looking for optimal strength and hypertrophy in your legs you should go with the back squat, because:
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●??The Back Squat has a bigger range of motion, which means that there are more muscles activated
●??You can progress on a weekly basis and get to more kgs on the bar, compared to the front squat
●??When squatting heavy our core is activated more, which is a general benefit
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However, that doesn’t mean you should totally exclude front squats from your training routine.
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You can implement some heavy back squats (intensity) and some light front squats (volume) for the best results.
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Your legs will grow IF you are eating optimally and are progressively overloading the weight on either exercise.
The Takeaway?
Front and Back squats are both awesome exercises to put some muscle mass in our legs.
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The one isn’t necessarily better than the other and they both should be included in our training for the biggest impact.
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Share this article with a friend, who might need to read it and stay tuned for Part 2 next week.