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The Ready State: Mobility Training with Dr. Kelly Starrett › Forums › General › Using the elbows to lever out knees during 10 minute squat test
I find that when I’m attempting the 10 minute squat test, it is more comfortable if I drop by elbows down between my legs and use them to lever my knees outward. Is that cheating on the squat test?
I hope not. I do that all the time myself!
While it’s not bad, because the more time you are there the better, two things are worth a mention… First, all of Kelly’s conversations revolve around getting organized first, so levering the knees at the bottom is a bit late. Second, we want to strengthen the muscles that get, and keep the knees out.
That said, elbows are helpful to use for relaxing onto, in order to maintain the knee position but kind of sacrifices vertical erectness.
The light went on for me when one day when I was wearing a pair of old sweatpants and doing overhead squats. With my hands otherwise occupied, I really needed to get organized while standing at the top and descend in order (hips first, knees out) otherwise my sweatpants would bind at key points when I was approaching the bottom. That was when I totally realized the same goes for organizing my chains internally.
At the same time though, we have to approach active squatting vs. “hanging out” squatting a bit differently, I would think. Organization is still always key, but we’re not trying to be active in the bottom position. We want the back to round, the butt to turn off, etc. Correct?
Doesn’t matter, it’s claiming.
Less forgiving… Wear dress pants and squat. Woops, can’t get the knees out. Should I popup a bit and reposition or use my elbows as levers?