A very small percentage of people can perform the overhead squat properly when they first walk into the gym. The overhead squat provides four benefits you should consider: It’s an amazing joint mobility screening tool for the entire body. Beyond training mobility all along the kinetic chain, from ankles to shoulders, this move also is a great way to train core strength and balance. Overhead squats are arguably the most technically demanding movement in weight training, along with the Olympic lift variations. This is why it is usually the first test we use when someone walks into the gym. And as a bonus, this move will also help with full body balance – another key aspect of overhead squats. He's been a coach since 2005 and spent his early career training combat athletes including multiple UFC fighters and professional boxers. Some athletes who have good ankle mobility won’t use it duirng their overhead squat. Most people lack the proper glute strength and hip mobility to make their posterior chain work efficiently. Add to... TB 20.4. The magazine and its 250+ contributors cover many topics including CrossFit®, weightlifting, nutrition, lifestyle and community related news. Improve your technique with this quick demo from the guys at Barbell Shrugged then try the 3 overhead squat mobility drills to test your current standards and learn how to improve for the future. 27 variations, 27 ways to check for issues that need to be improved. Mobility work should also lead to better technique in the overhead barbell movements. But if it starts slacking, maintaining neutral spine becomes really, really difficult. To improve overall overhead squat mobility, there’s one other approach that’s worth mentioning – self-massage. Try these techniques to improve overhead squat mobility and like those golfers who saw an improved golf swing, you might start to see the mobility and strength gains show up in other aspects of your active life. Ankle Mobility As mentioned earlier, ankle mobility is a huge component of getting into optimal positioning for the overhead squat. In fact, one study found that golfers who could not overhead squat were 2 to 3 times more likely to have 3 common golf swing faults: early hip extension, loss of posture and “slide” – meaning their lower body had too much lateral movement during the swing [2][3]. To-Do. This increases strength and mobility while letting the neuromuscular system know we are moving safely and within our range of control. And as a bonus that everyone could use, this move is also great for improving posture. Overhead squat CrossFit workouts are a great way to test and improve your core strength, mobility, strength and ability to lift and breathe in a fatigued state. Without sufficient thoracic spine flexibility, the upper back is not able to extend and maintain extended during the OHS. For an in-depth and comprehensive approach to hip flexibility, mobility and function  for those with more troublesome hips I recommend you follow the Hip Flexibility Solution. If you haven’t encountered the move in a CrossFit gym, you might have seen it as a part of a movement screen. If you are looking to really focus on your squat mobility, take a look at this article: Mobility Tips: Easy Fixes for your Back Squat. If your psoas is a little bit lazy (a common issue), it can also contribute to butt-wink. This Triple Flexion Technique is especially powerful at tackling ankle dorsiflexion, but it also works 2 other requirements for good overhead squat mobility – full knee flexion and full hip flexion. It reinforces the perfect muscular balance for heavy training. Even if overhead squatting or barbell snatching is not part of your training, having the ability to perform a respectable overhead squat indicates that your squat game is probably ready for some serious loading. With 1,000,000+ readers and 5,000,000+ pageviews monthly, from more than 185 countries, it connects the worldwide fitness community. If your … Everything that a fitness fan is searching for. If your heels are constantly popping up off the ground during overhead squats, you’re dealing with restricted ankle dorsiflexion. Again I recommend the Hip Flexibility Solution here because caving knees is likely the result of weak/dysfunctional hips. Consider some foot strengthening exercises to balance this out. All 5 of these exercises address a specific and common deficiency when it comes to perfecting this tricky move. It can serve as part of a learning progression for the snatch (learning the proper receiving position), a strength builder for the upper body and trunk in particular to help in the snatch, and a mobility exercise to improve a lifter’s bottom position for the snatch. The Overhead Squat is without a doubt one of the most challenging movements in CrossFit® from a mobility standpoint. Select a depth that brings you to the limits of where you can maintain an upright position and strong lockout. Overhead Squat WODS COVID-19. They have tremendous positive effects on mobility, squat depth, back strength, and stability, especially where it translates to other lifts. One study of 20 active females found that just 90 seconds self massage on 3 areas – lateral torso, lateral thigh, and plantar fascia – improved overhead squat performance [4]. Doing overhead squats today? 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