I get a sore back with squats

[Wannabfit]

After reading about squats on this site I wanted to try them. I have tried them 3 times now and I get a really sore back! Please help! Thanks

[slysara]

How much are you lifting when you try to do squats? It depends how sore your back is, too. You should feel a little bit of stress, but it shouldn't be excrutiating.

[RWF]

Originally Posted by Wannabfit

After reading about squats on this site I wanted to try them. I have tried them 3 times now and I get a really sore back! Please help! Thanks

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Do you have a history of back issues?

[charlotte]

Where's the pain in your back? Upper or lower?

[Teri]

Half squats might help.Concentrate on stomach exercises which is your core ,the support for your back.

[joanne lee]

Hi .. have you got long legs compared to your upper body? I see this a lot with my female clients. As they squat to about 90 degrees, if they have a shorter torso you end up angled more towards the floor as you dont have the length in the back to keep your chest up.
If this is the case you might find that you cannot squat as low as other people but as an alternative you can use the Hack Squat machine (if you know how, do it in reverse).
Also if your heels are lifting it means your feet are in the wrong position and you may be tipping forward.
Squatting should just be like sitting in a chair, dont be scared to push your hips back - but your chest should be looking at the horizon not at the floor
Hope this helps

[Anthony]

hi. you might be leaning forward too much. this is common in taller people. try doing your squats on the smith machine. start with just the bar (no weight) the smith machine will allow you to have your feet out in front of you far enough that your lower back will not be over worked and your knees wont go too far past your toes. get under the bar so that its resting on your traps and hold on with your hands at a nice comfortable distance. then take a good step forward with both feet while still holding onto the bar (keep it on your traps too) turn the bar to unrack it then squat down until your thighs are parallel to the ground. remember to always keep your core tight. your torso should be straight up and down and your legs at 90 deg in the bottom position. good luck and have fun!!