Effects of Stance Width and Barbell Placement on Kinematics, Kinetics, and Myoelectric Activity in Back Squats

A Biomechanical Comparison Between a High and Low Barbell Placement on Net Joint Moments, Kinematics, Muscle Forces, and Muscle-Specific Moments in 3 Repetition Maximum Back Squats

ABSTRACT

Larsen, S, de Zee, M, Kristiansen, EL, and van den Tillaar, R. A biomechanical comparison between a high and low barbell placement on net joint moments, kinematics, muscle forces, and muscle-specific moments in 3 repetition maximum back squats. J Strength Cond Res 38(7): 1221-1230, 2024-This study aimed to investigate the impact of a high barbell vs. low barbell placement on net joint moments, muscle forces, and muscle-specific moments in the lower extremity joints and muscles during maximum back squats. Twelve recreationally trained men (age = 25.3 ± 2.9 years, height = 1.79 ± 7.7 m, and body mass = 82.8 ± 6.9 kg) volunteered for the study. A marker-based motion capture system and force plate data were used to calculate the net joint moments, and individual muscle forces were estimated using static optimization. Muscle forces were multiplied by their corresponding internal moment arms to determine muscle-specific moments. Statistical parametric mapping was used to analyze the effect of barbell placement as time-series data during the concentric phase. The 3 repetition maximum barbell load lifted by the subjects was 129.1 ± 13.4 kg and 130.2 ± 12.7 kg in the high bar and low bar, which were not significantly different from each other. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in net joint moments, muscle forces, or muscle-specific moments for the hip, knee, or ankle joint between the low- and high bar placements. The findings of this study suggest that barbell placement plays a minor role in lower extremity muscle forces and moment-specific moments when stance width is standardized, and barbell load lifted does not differ between barbell placements among recreationally resistance-trained men during maximal back squats. Therefore, the choice of barbell placement should be based on individual preference and comfort.

Are Diminishing Potentiation and Large Extensor Moments the Cause for the Occurrence of the Sticking Region in Maximum Free-Weight Barbell Back Squats among Resistance-Trained Males?

This study compared the kinematics, surface electromyography (sEMG) and kinetics among isometric squats performed at 10 different heights of the upward part and a one-repetition maximum (1-RM) squat. Eleven males (age: 27.5 ± 3.4 years, body mass: 84.9 ± 8.1 kg, body height: 1.79 ± 0.06 m, 1-RM squat: 152.2 ± 20.55 kg) took part in this study. It was found that force output was lowest in the sticking region at around the event of peak deceleration for the 1-RM trial with force output at 2179 ± 212 N. For the isometric trial, the lowest force output occurred at the lowest barbell height (1735 ± 299 N). In addition, for the 1-RM condition hip extension moments peaked at the first four barbell heights (6.5-6.2 Nm/kg) representing the pre-sticking and the sticking region before significantly decreasing during the events representing the post-sticking region. Additionally, the sEMG amplitude peaked for the hip extensors at the barbell heights corresponding to the post-sticking region. Moreover, the sEMG amplitude was significantly higher for the 1-RM condition for all hip extensors, vastus lateralis, and calf muscles (F ≥ 2.7, p ≤ 0.01, ηp2 ≥ 0.25). Therefore, we suggest that the sticking region occurs because of reduced force output in the pre-sticking and the sticking region in back squats among resistance-trained males. The reduced force output is probably a combination of suboptimal internal moment arms, length-tension relationships of the gluteus maximus, hamstring and vastii muscles in the pre-sticking and sticking regions to overcome the large extensor moments together with diminishing potentiation from the pre-sticking to the sticking region.

A Multi-Experiment Investigation of the Effects Stance Width on the Biomechanics of the Barbell Squat

This two-experiment study aimed to explore habitual and manipulated stance widths on squat biomechanics. In experiment one, 70 lifters completed back squats at 70%, 1 repetition maximum (1RM), and were split into groups (NARROW < 1.06 * greater trochanter width (GTW), MID 1.06−1.18 * GTW and WIDE > 1.37 * GTW) according to their self-selected stance width. In experiment two, 20 lifters performed squats at 70%, 1RM, in three conditions (NARROW, MID and WIDE, 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 * GTW). The three-dimensional kinematics were measured using a motion capture system, ground reaction forces (GRF) using a force platform, and the muscle forces using musculoskeletal modelling. In experiment two, the peak power was significantly greater in the NARROW condition, whereas both experiments showed the medial GRF impulse was significantly greater in the WIDE stance. Experiment two showed the NARROW condition significantly increased the quadriceps forces, whereas both experiments showed that the WIDE stance width significantly enhanced the posterior-chain muscle forces. The NARROW condition may improve the high mechanical power movement performance and promote the quadriceps muscle development. Greater stance widths may improve sprint and rapid change-of-direction performance and promote posterior-chain muscle hypertrophy. Whilst it appears that there is not an optimal stance width, these observations can be utilized by strength and conditioning practitioners seeking to maximize training adaptations.