Author Topic: Get Strength Front Squat Harness  (Read 12882 times)

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LanceSTS

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Re: Get Strength Front Squat Harness
« Reply #30 on: August 16, 2011, 02:53:05 pm »
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  I have a harness, it definitely changes the dynamic of the front squat into more of a hybrid between a zercher squat and a front squat, but for people with mobility issues or just another exercise altogether, its a great tool.

 I think what steven and tychver are trying to say is that the reason the shoulders hurt most of the time, is not the shoulders themselves, but a mobility issue or weakness in the front squatting movement pattern and I agree, once you are tracking a more vertical bar path, most of the pain will usually go away.  The issues are very often not in the shoulders, but in the movement pattern that is much different than a back squat.  Once there is any forward lean at all, there will be tremendous pressure on the shoulders and wrists regardless of how strong or mobile the shoulders and upper back are.

 I like the harness for variety, but if someone just wants to front squat without the wrist/shoulder mobility issues they may run into, its very easy to just use straps ala Poloquin

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tychver

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Re: Get Strength Front Squat Harness
« Reply #31 on: August 19, 2011, 10:29:05 pm »
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Yeah I foud the harness completely changed the exercise from one where you had to stay upright to avoid losing the bar to one where you were pulled forwards by the weight. GetStrength are based in NZ and if you're involved in either powerlifting or weightlifting you've ordered from them and probably met some of them. Small country :P

Even using proper front squat technique and maintaining as vertical torso as possible there will be a slighly forward lean which increases the mobility demands compared to simply holding a loaded bar in the rack position.

One of the other major technical differences in the front squat that people run into is they try to pinch the scapula back as in a back squat. You need to shove the shoulder girdle forwards and up. Trying to squeeze your elbows together can be a good cue for bringing the shoulder girdle forwards and up and externally rotating the shoulders.

I'm not saying you should never use the harness, just that if you had trouble just holding a loaded barbell in the rack position without pain I'd be doing a serious evaluation of mobility and posture.