How deep should I squat?

Squats: How Deep Is Too Deep?

Question: I just saw this guy doing squats and he was going down LOWWWWWW, like his butt almost touching the floor.

I thought, dang… is that even good for you? Because his back was kinda arching when his butt almost hit the floor, but other than that he had perfect form.

An amateur BB (bodybuilder) even commented on how good his form was, and how it takes a lot of practice to get that low.

So, in sum, what I’m asking is, should I be doing squats that low? I always just take them so that my legs are parallel as if I were sitting in a chair (butt sticking out of course).  TIA / Tallahassee, FL

Answer: Although doing super deep squats is definitely good for stimulating the quads, hams, and glutes, if you go so  deep that your lower back (lumbar spine) is flexed (rounded forward) then it is putting a significant amount of force on the intervertebral discs in the lower back.

Summary: Ass-to-Grass Squats = Good for Muscles; Bad for Discs

My recommendation is to go deep, but to stop just short of the point where the lower back starts to round (flex).  For most people this ends up being to the point where the upper thigh is parallel to the ground.

Here’s to safe squatting!

Dr Clay