The back squat: A proposed assessment of functional deficits and technical factors that limit performance
Gregory D Myer1, Adam M Kushner2, Jensen L Brent3
1Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio ; Department of Pediatrics and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio ; Sports Health & Performance Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio ; The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Abstract:
Fundamental movement competency is essential for participation in physical activity and for mitigating the risk of injury, which are both key elements of health throughout life. The squat movement pattern is arguably one of the most primal and critical fundamental movements necessary to improve sport performance, to reduce injury risk and to support lifelong physical activity. Based on current evidence, this first (1 of 2) report deconstructs the technical performance of the back squat as a foundation training exercise and presents a novel dynamic screening tool that incorporates identification techniques for functional deficits that limit squat performance and injury resilience. The follow-up report will outline targeted corrective methodology for each of the functional deficits presented in the assessment tool.
