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September 26, 2005
Safety Squat Bar
Periodically I'll mention that I go to the gym several times a week. I started going on a regular basis when I found I had a hormone problem; I became concerned about losing bone and muscle mass and hoped going to the gym would help preserve both. It isn't uncommon for me to bitch about people who don't rerack their weights (I spotted another guy today -- a guy about 55. He should know better.)
I started squatting a while ago. It may already be a year; it may be something less. I was concerned that it might be hard on my knees and especially my right one as I've had it operated on twice. For as long as I can remember -- years and years and years, probably since the last operation about 15 years ago -- the right knee area has felt like there is a rubber band on the inside of the knee that is constantly pulling. It's probably a tendon, though I refuse to do any actual research to see what body part it might be. I'm certain it isn't one of the major body organs.
Shortly after I started squatting the pulling sensation went away. The knee feels better than ever.
Even though I squat a couple of times a week I still suck at it. I attribute this to my height (I'm just over 6' 4"), though this may just be an excuse. While I want to squat, not getting hurt is more important to me at this age (45 years) than putting up a lot of weight is. With a bar on my shoulder I've been concerned that I bend forward too far and that I round my back. Once or twice I've had soreness in my lower back, but nothing too severe.
I've been hoping to get my hands on a Safety Squat Bar. Lo and behold, the gym I belong to has purchased one. 
I saw a guy using it yesterday. He's a competitive power lifter with some shoulder problems. He was using the SSB as it has a yoke that allows a person to use it while keeping his hands in front on a pair of handles. I had to leave before he was finished squatting and didn't get a chance to debrief him about the bar. But, I ran into him today and he confirmed a lot of what I'd read: he had to squat a bit less and the SSB seems to push you forward.
I gave the bar a shot. I tried several reps with an empty bar to get the feel for it and then thew some light weight on. I eventually worked up to what would be twenty pounds less than I normally workout with.
The reps were a little harder. I believe this was a due to a combination of the initial awkwardness I felt and the fact that greater emphasis is placed on the quads, and less on the glutes (er, ass), with the SSB versus a straight bar. Your glutes are the biggest muscle group in your body; J-Lo's glutes are the biggest muscle group in her body and a whole other body not her own.
Luckily, my squat is so low that I think the SSB may allow me to make greater gains than a straight bar. The weight is centered in such a way that it reduces the amount of forward bending I experience otherwise so I should have to worry less about straining my back. Only time will tell.
Posted by delmer at September 26, 2005 12:07 AM