The myths and benefits of the full squat

Over the past few years, core exercises have been becoming more prevalent. One of the core exercises that people neglect is the full squat. Why?

Two reasons, really.

1.      They’re hard.

2.      There’s been some misinformation about squats floating around for quite some time.

Five popular myths about squats

Squats are bad for the heart. While doing them will temporarily raise blood pressure, the heart adapts to the stress by making the left ventricle grow larger.

Squats make athletes slower. Complete fabrication since many sprinters attest that the exercise is directly tied to their speed.

Squats are bad for the back. Using proper form negates most of the risk for injury and strengthening the back muscles will prevent injury as well.

Squats are bad for the knees. Again, as long as you’re using proper form, there’s little chance of debilitating knee injury. And again, a lot of research indicates that squats improve knee stability and help to reduce the risk of injuries.

Squats will make your butt big. They will help to lift, firm and strengthen your glutes, if you are doing the exercise correctly.

The benefits of doing squats

They help build muscle … all over your body

Obviously doing squats help build nearly all of the muscles in your legs, including quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. Squats also promote muscle building throughout the body by triggering the release of testosterone and human growth hormone, which are vital for muscle growth and will also help to improve muscle mass when you train other areas in both your upper and lower body.

Squats are a functional exercise

Functional exercises help your body to perform real-life activities, as opposed to simply being able to do exercises on gym equipment. In addition to building muscle mass, squats promote mobility and balance.

Squats help you burn fat

When you build muscle you burn more calories, even when you’re at rest. For every pound of muscle you add, your body burns an additional 50-70 calories per day. If you gain 10 pounds of muscle, you’ll automatically burn 500-700 extra calories every day.

Help you prevent injuries

Squats help strengthen weak stabilizer muscles, ligaments and connective tissues, which are the most common victims of athletic injury. Squats help you prevent injury by improving your flexibility by improving the range of motion in your ankles and hips, as well as your balance.

Run fast, jump high

Studies have shown that squats help athletes run faster and jump higher, which is why it is part of virtually every professional athlete's training program.

Squats help tone your backside, abs and more

The squat is an excellent multi-purpose activity useful for toning and tightening your behind, abs and legs. Building these muscles help to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity, which can help protect against obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Help with metabolism

Squats help to make your body more efficient, especially in the way it pumps fluids, which helps in waste removal and nutrition delivery to tissues, organs and glands.