Weird feeling while squatting last reps

[Konada]

Hi guys I started on Starting Strength about a week ago. All was going well until the last 2 reps of my squat. Basically, whilst I was coming back up I felt a sharp pins and needles feeling in the middle of my left thigh. It isn't exactly painful but I don't know whats causing it but I just train through it.

Somethin tells me it could probably be a nerve but I won't rule out any possibilities yet. I need help on this asap so I can continue with my workouts (or change them) to prevent screwing up my own body. Advice?

Note: I do ATG squats if it helps.

 

[Alle_Gory]

Could be anything with that much stress. Does it happen regularly or was it a freak occurrence?

Give your body some extra time to heal the thighs just in case you damaged something. If it doesn't happen again, don't worry about it.

 

[user43770]

How good is your form? You could be putting unnecessary stress on your knees and quads. Make sure to keep your knees in line with your toes; don't let them drift in. When you first begin, it's natural to try to bring your knees in to put the bulk of the load on your quads. After you build up your glutes and hamstrings you won't have this problem. You have to make a conscious effort to keep your knees out. This may require reducing the amount of weight you're lifting.

Before I squat, I always remind myself of what I need to do: Knees out! Keep your core tight all the way through the motion. Don't bounce - bouncing out of the hole is dangerous; go down methodically, but then explode out of the hole. Hold your breath until you get out of the hole, then exhale forcefully. Holding your breath keeps your core tight (if you exhale before you get out of the hole it makes finishing the lift a lot more difficult). Never forget to exhale.

By the way, hole = past parallel.

 

[Konada]

Could be anything with that much stress. Does it happen regularly or was it a freak occurrence?

Give your body some extra time to heal the thighs just in case you damaged something. If it doesn't happen again, don't worry about it.

It has happened everytime I work out.

As for form I'm pretty sure I'm doing everything right according to Rippetoe's guide on squat form. Knees out, locked back, weight in line with middle of the foot at the lowest/highest point of squat and also hip drive. Before I started I've been practicing to get y form right and got a friend to see if I'm doing it right, seems I was. Might be a overstrain of the thigh, I'll avoid squats for a couple of days to see if it helps.

Thanks guys for yoir advice.

 

[user43770]

I actually felt that sh1t today. It was in my lower quad, just above the knee cap. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling for me, though, and it's never bothered me for long. Just make sure to keep your form correct and always stretch afterwards.

 

[Konada]

I actually felt that sh1t today. It was in my lower quad, just above the knee cap. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling for me, though, and it's never bothered me for long. Just make sure to keep your form correct and always stretch afterwards.

YES! That's the feeling I'm talking about. It only occurs during my last reps. So do you train through it?

 

[user43770]

YES! That's the feeling I'm talking about. It only occurs during my last reps. So do you train through it?

Yeah, I just work through it. For me, it's just an odd tingly feeling. I've always assumed that I was just straining the muscle a little bit. Stretching helps.

 

[Jitterbug]

Don't bounce - bouncing out of the hole is dangerous; go down methodically, but then explode out of the hole.

How do you think exploding out of the hole works? Stretch reflex aka bouncing out of the hole. Only if you do it right, of course. Every good squatter does this - powerlifters and weightlifters alike.

 

[Konada]

Damn I felt that sh1t again today. Tried to add weight but during the first set I was feeling it every rep, growing worse each time. Had no choice but to lower the weight. On the bright side, my quads are getting conditioned to the weights. Didn't feel any of that crap with 75lbs squats, which was the weight last workout.

 

[Konada]

Another question, my upper back hurts when the weight is resting on my shoulders cos I have virtually no muscles there to prevent it from digging into my back. Should I use a bar cushion? They have that at the gym, need advice here because I don't know whether it will underdevelop my upper ba k or something.

 

[Alle_Gory]

Bar cushions are fine. Make sure to center it so it spreads the weight effectively.

You could also try doing front squats if that's uncomfortable. You put the bar on your shoulders are raise your arms up and forward and grab the bar. Kind of like you're trying to choke yourself but raise the elbows and grab the bar firmly.

http://www.old-school-boot-camp.com...highs-heels-elevated-barbell-front-squat1.gif

 

[Jitterbug]

The pvssy pad changes your leverage and will fvck you up. Don't use it. Your upper back won't develop well either.

Front squat is a very uncomfortable exercise compared to back squat and you're advising him to do that instead, for comfort reason?

 

[user43770]

How do you think exploding out of the hole works? Stretch reflex aka bouncing out of the hole. Only if you do it right, of course. Every good squatter does this - powerlifters and weightlifters alike.

The stretch reflex sounds like what naturally happens when you use good form in a fluid motion. When I refer to bouncing, I'm picturing people who relax their body at the bottom of the lift.

 

[Alle_Gory]

The pvssy pad changes your leverage and will fvck you up. Don't use it. Your upper back won't develop well either.

Exactly. Look at these pussies using a bar cushion: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p47Aa2K8l-E/S2RRBynsIHI/AAAAAAAAAHA/eOqLQXmN784/s400/arnold+squatting.jpg

Yup. That's Dave Draper and Schwarzenegger back in the day. They look like such pussies. Look at Arnold only squatting what looks like 505 with a bar cushion. What a pvssy.

Front squat is a very uncomfortable exercise compared to back squat and you're advising him to do that instead, for comfort reason?

I personally find the front squat more comfortable. It's a little bit harder to balance the bar but once you do, it's more comfortable and a more upright movement.

 

[Jitterbug]

That's not a pvssy pad. That's part of a buffalo bar. You don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Konada]

Well I did my research on the net and general consensus is that its unstable and can lead to the bar rolling off the back. Definitely do not want that happening. Staying off the pad then.

 

[Alle_Gory]

That's part of a buffalo bar.

No it isn't. Here's a clearer picture where you can see it's pad like shape.

http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/front-squat.jpg

It also looks like a regular barbell that bends under the weight and you can tell because the plates continue the arc. A buffalo bar has the ends pointing up to offset the curl. Like this: http://ironmind-store.com/Buffalo-Bar153/productinfo/1270/

 

[jannet]

As for pattern I'm attractive certain I'm managing everything right as asserted by Rippetoe's direct on crouch form. Knees out, locked back, heaviness in line with middle of the base at the lowest/highest issue of crouch and furthermore hip drive.