Squat Straps

[Bigtex]

Yesterday I ran into a guy in the gym that use to be the state chairman of the APF. I knew him when I put on APF meets. Anyway, he is 55 years old and around 280lbs. I knew when I saw him squat that he had very little ROM in the shoulders and was unable to reach back far enough to grab the squat bar on his back. The immediate solution is to widen your grip but in most power racks you can't do that because you will lose a finger when you try to rack the weight. So this guy was using wrist straps to hold the bar. I had never seen anyone do this and wish I would have know about it back when I could squat and had the same ROM problems. Anyone ever see anything like this? This is a front squat but imagine putting the bar on the back.

 

[monsoon]

Spud inc sells a device called the safety squat strap or something like that. Maybe a little more stable than using wrist straps. You can reqlly pull the bar into your back. I bought one a few years ago and loved it. Gave my shoulders and wrists a nice break.

 

[Bigtex]

Just found that. Looks like it would keep the bar much more stable than gripping it in each hand.

 

[genetic freak]

I don't use them for a barbell back squat, I will just use the SSB instead. However, for Smith Machine back squats I will use straps sometimes if my shoulders are really tight and I am struggling to get under the bar. It usually is not too much of a problem, as I am a high bar squatter, but if my left shoulder is acting up...