Are Squatting and Deadlifting bad for you?
Is Deadlifting bad for you?
Is squatting bad for you?
Are squatting and deadlifting bad for athletes such as dancers or active adults?
These are questions I hear FAR too often.
SQUATTING AND DEADLIFTING ARE NOT BAD FOR DANCERS (OR ANYONE ELSE)…
Historically speaking, the squat and deadlift have been villainized with the thought that they are dangerous to the spine or the knees or both. This NEEDS to change. Science has evolved, and this old ideology is simply just not true.
In fact, the squat and deadlift are EXTREMELY beneficial for all athletes looking to excel at their sport and prevent injuries. Not only are these foundational movements, they are also amazing for building strength and power while at the same time improving flexibility in the hips, knees. ankles (which dancers absolutely need). The risk involved with these movements can almost completely be eliminated by ensuring things like proper exercise form and managing the load appropriately, both of which Dr. Amanda Bennett specializes in at Movement is Medicine PT.
Final point (backed by research), Deadlifting = strong bones + & resilient soft tissue (tendons, ligaments, cartilage, etc.). In order for tissue to adapt you have to have a specific load or what is known as a minimally essential strain (MES) . Likewise, in order to strengthen tissue, you need to load it. Sorry, but cute little clamshells and supine leg raises aren’t going to cause enough strain on your body to create the change you want!
I must finish that rant by admitting that all squats and deadlifts are NOT created equal and if done incorrectly, I believe that both exercises can be very bad for the hips, knees, and spine. THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD SEEK OUT EXPERT ADVICE.
If you’re a dancer or active adult looking for expert advice from an athlete herself on how to squatting and deadlifting can take your performance to the next level then sign up for a discovery session below so that we can see if you are a good fit to work with us!