Squat question

[Soldier]

I've been focussing hard on a good, tight arch in my back during squats. It feels good, and my form is tight. The arch is stopping me right at parralel, so I don't have to think about it. But I'm having a small issue I was curious about. I'm having some dull aches in the front of my hips, around the hip flexor. It feels like a combination of the joint, connective tissue, and muscle. Nothing specific, and no shooting pains. It sort of feels like someone punched me in the hip flexors for 15 minutes. This morning I did squats again and I definitely felt it at the bottom.

Any thoughts?

[BendtheBar]

I've had hip similar issues but mine came from heavy RDLs.

Just out of curiosity how wide is your stance?

[M Honeycutt]

Soilder, sounds like you need to do some more stretching or different forms of stretching for your hips before you squat. I use to have hip problems but now they feel great and it came from streching daily. Also why are you squating 2 days in a row?

[Soldier]

Originally Posted by M Honeycutt

Soilder, sounds like you need to do some more stretching or different forms of stretching for your hips before you squat. I use to have hip problems but now they feel great and it came from streching daily. Also why are you squating 2 days in a row?

I didn't squat two days in a row. I squated hard Saturday, then did an explosive/speed workout that included a couple sets of squats this morning. I also did some sprinting and lunges Tuesday at PT

I'm sure you're right about my hip mobility. It's never been an issue, where as my knees have given me lots of trouble, and received the bulk of my time spent on mobility. I think the sprints and ab training have led to some tightness I haven't had before, now that I think about it.

BTB, my stance is about 6-8" wider on each side than shoulder width. Definitely not a powerlifting stance, but it gives me a good balance of back and leg focus.

[M Honeycutt]

if your PTing and squating and training im sure you will always have aches and pains. you probably have some inflamation in your joints from lifting and PT. I work for the marine corp at camp lejeune so i know what PT is about. Good luck trying to balance PT and weight lifting... it can be done if approached correctly. Are you in the army?

[M Honeycutt]

Also try not to PT after you squat or train your legs. Try to give your body 24hrs at least to recuperate from a heavy squat workout.

[J_Byrd]

If I had to guess it is just tightness in your hipflexers. Need to focus on getting some good streches in before hand that focus on that. A cheap set of briefs would help as well, you can pick up a z suit for about $40.

[Soldier]

Originally Posted by M Honeycutt

if your PTing and squating and training im sure you will always have aches and pains. you probably have some inflamation in your joints from lifting and PT. I work for the marine corp at camp lejeune so i know what PT is about. Good luck trying to balance PT and weight lifting... it can be done if approached correctly. Are you in the army?

I'm a "future soldier". I'm shipping into the Army in January. We have PT twice a week, but we only have to come once a week, which I'll probably start doing. It's other future soldiers who run PT, and god do they have no clue how to run a good training session. I don't mind a drill sergeant who's younger than me yelling at me, because they are sergeants for a reason, but it takes every once of control I have to handle an 18 year old private yelling at me, when they have no experience or training in how to develop a fitness program.

At first I was focussed on just increasing the military's "big three"; pushups, situps, and running. After I passed all three parts of the fitness test on the first try, I switched over to a conditioning focus to prepare myself for basic, which includes very high volume. I've been training upwards of 10-12 times a week, switching around from heavy lifting, speed work, and high-rep stuff for muscular endurance, to MMA style workouts including bag work and grappling exercises. Whatever part(s) of me feel good on a given day, I'll train. I've almost forgotten what periodization and specialization mean, but every time I try to make and follow a weekly plan, something gets overdone and holds back everything else.

I know it's a crazy, overwhelming plan, but Hell if it isn't working. I'm steadily recomping, even gaining a couple lbs while leaning out, and my conditioning is through the roof, and all while improving my joint mobility, especially in my horrible knees which feel great (thank you squats!).

[Fazc]

Great work so far, I like the sound of that schedule.

In regards to soreness I think it's just a simple case of doing too much/too hard/too soon. Back off a little and let your body acclimatise to the schedule.

You can do anything if you start light enough. But push it and the fatigue will continue to build untill injury stops you completely.