In this episode the Crew dials the voicemail to answer a question from a loyal Power Athlete Radio listener:
Hey crew, long time listener, third time caller, Chris calling in got a question for you today about range of motion. You guys talked a lot about doing exercises through your own individual full range of motion. My question: is it worth while trying to increase in that range of motion. So for example, if you can do a back squat to just below parallel with proficiency good form and you’re strong through that range of motion. Is it worthwhile trying to increase that range of motion to say in ass to grass squat with good control form and gain strength through that range of motion. If you guys could elaborate on that, that’d be pretty cool. Thanks a lot and buy.
Movement Standard: Maintain Posture & Position
Standards. We all have them; whether you’re determining clean clothes from dirty, a productive workday from a wasteful one, or scoping out a potential stud/studette. In most cases, they are a measurable, quantifiable way to observe an expectation being met or any deviation from that expectation. It seems that although our standards may all differ in the aforementioned instances, they are universally understood. When we take a look at our world of strength and conditioning, we find innumerable examples of how standards are being used properly, improperly, and not at all. So, when do standards matter and what is their pertinence to lifting, training, testing, fitnessing, and sport? It’s good to have standards- but standards are useless if you don’t know what purpose they serve.
Read Now: Attacking Limiting Factors – Squat Initiation by Tex McQuilkin
John and Tex take on a caller’s question regarding squatting depth and limited range of motion. Naturally the conversation drifted into #toesforward squatting and Power Athlete’s movement standard: maintaining posture and position. Key takeaway is identifying what an athlete is training for and not extending or taking liberties to implement a standard of movement where it’s inappropriate for an athlete’s goal. The last thing we want is for coaches to become so fixated by standard that they are willing to compromise or abandon solid posture and body position to perform the given movement for imaginary whiteboard points.
Empower Your Performance
Have you been squatting on questions for John and Tex? Maybe you have asked around, and just can’t land on a straight answer. Take a breather, give us a call, and let us do the leg work.

The Power Athlete Radio hotline is OPEN! Dial (929) ING – ING0, leave us a detailed message, and we’ll get to work on finding you answers!
That’s (929) 464 – 4640
Tagged: Ankle / Execution / Hamstring / movement / Multiplane Movement / Power / Range of motion / setup / Squat / Squat Stance
AUTHOR

Christopher McQuilkin
MS, CSCS, SCCC, CHES
Book a consult with me regarding coaching, training, life, education... anything your heart desires. Click below:
calendly.com/pahq-tex
Former collegiate lacrosse defensive midfielder, 4-year letter winner and 3-year team captain. Coached strength and conditioning collegiately with Georgetown University football, Men's and Women's lacrosse and Women's Crew, as well with the University of Texas at Austin's football program. Apprenticed under Raphael Ruiz of 1-FortyFour-1 studying proper implementation of science based, performance driven training systems. Head coached CrossFit Dupont's program for two years in Washington D.C. Received a Master's in Health Promotion Management from Marymount University in 2010, and has been a coach for Power Athlete since October, 2012.
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