Modelling Muscle Force Distributions During the Front and Back Squat in Trained Lifters

The barbell squat is a fundamental strength and conditioning exercise, with two principal variants; back and front. Whilst previous studies have examined the mechanical differences of the front and back squat, there is no information comparing the distributions of muscle forces between these variant...

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Main Authors: Stephen Atkins, James D. Richards, Jonathan Sinclair, Hayley Vincent
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego 2016-01-01
Series:Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://wnus.edu.pl/cejssm/en/issue/124/article/1297/
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spelling doaj-e0c7f40d68384b679cb402957ac1781e2020-11-24T21:18:06ZengWydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu SzczecińskiegoCentral European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine2300-97052353-28072016-01-011410.18276/cej.2016.2-02Modelling Muscle Force Distributions During the Front and Back Squat in Trained LiftersStephen Atkins0James D. Richards1Jonathan Sinclair2Hayley Vincent3Division of Sport Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, School of Sport and Wellbeing, University of Central LancashireAllied Health Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of Central LancashireDivision of Sport Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, School of Sport and Wellbeing, University of Central LancashireDivision of Sport Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, School of Sport and Wellbeing, University of Central LancashireThe barbell squat is a fundamental strength and conditioning exercise, with two principal variants; back and front. Whilst previous studies have examined the mechanical differences of the front and back squat, there is no information comparing the distributions of muscle forces between these variants. This study aimed to compare estimated forces developed by the primary skeletal muscles used in the front and back squat. Twenty-five male participants were recruited with 6.24 ±2.21 years of experience in squat lifting and 1 repetition maximum values of 127.5 ±18.8 and 90.6 ±14.4 kg for the back and front squat lifts. Participants completed both back and front squats at 70% of their front squat 1 repetition maximum. Muscle forces were determined during dynamic situations using motion capture data, in addition to sagittal plane kinematics. Differences between squat conditions were examined using a multivariate analysis of variance. The kinematic analysis showed that the back squat was associated with significantly (p < 0.05) greater flexion of the trunk. Examination of muscles forces indicated that erector spinae forces were also significantly (p < 0.05) larger in the back squat. No significant differences were identified for skeletal muscle forces elsewhere (p > 0.05). Our results indicate that neither the front nor back squat provides any marked difference in muscle force production, aside from that isolated to the lower back. These findings lead the conclusion that neither the front nor back squat conditions confer any additional benefits over the other in terms of the skeletal muscle force output.https://wnus.edu.pl/cejssm/en/issue/124/article/1297/Biomechanicsresistance trainingweight lifting
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Stephen Atkins
James D. Richards
Jonathan Sinclair
Hayley Vincent
spellingShingle Stephen Atkins
James D. Richards
Jonathan Sinclair
Hayley Vincent
Modelling Muscle Force Distributions During the Front and Back Squat in Trained Lifters
Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine
Biomechanics
resistance training
weight lifting
author_facet Stephen Atkins
James D. Richards
Jonathan Sinclair
Hayley Vincent
author_sort Stephen Atkins
title Modelling Muscle Force Distributions During the Front and Back Squat in Trained Lifters
title_short Modelling Muscle Force Distributions During the Front and Back Squat in Trained Lifters
title_full Modelling Muscle Force Distributions During the Front and Back Squat in Trained Lifters
title_fullStr Modelling Muscle Force Distributions During the Front and Back Squat in Trained Lifters
title_full_unstemmed Modelling Muscle Force Distributions During the Front and Back Squat in Trained Lifters
title_sort modelling muscle force distributions during the front and back squat in trained lifters
publisher Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
series Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine
issn 2300-9705
2353-2807
publishDate 2016-01-01
description The barbell squat is a fundamental strength and conditioning exercise, with two principal variants; back and front. Whilst previous studies have examined the mechanical differences of the front and back squat, there is no information comparing the distributions of muscle forces between these variants. This study aimed to compare estimated forces developed by the primary skeletal muscles used in the front and back squat. Twenty-five male participants were recruited with 6.24 ±2.21 years of experience in squat lifting and 1 repetition maximum values of 127.5 ±18.8 and 90.6 ±14.4 kg for the back and front squat lifts. Participants completed both back and front squats at 70% of their front squat 1 repetition maximum. Muscle forces were determined during dynamic situations using motion capture data, in addition to sagittal plane kinematics. Differences between squat conditions were examined using a multivariate analysis of variance. The kinematic analysis showed that the back squat was associated with significantly (p < 0.05) greater flexion of the trunk. Examination of muscles forces indicated that erector spinae forces were also significantly (p < 0.05) larger in the back squat. No significant differences were identified for skeletal muscle forces elsewhere (p > 0.05). Our results indicate that neither the front nor back squat provides any marked difference in muscle force production, aside from that isolated to the lower back. These findings lead the conclusion that neither the front nor back squat conditions confer any additional benefits over the other in terms of the skeletal muscle force output.
topic Biomechanics
resistance training
weight lifting
url https://wnus.edu.pl/cejssm/en/issue/124/article/1297/
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