Intermediate exercise

Barbell Squat with Bands

Also called Squat with Bands

  • Power
  • Strength
  • Powerlifting

Technique

How to perform Barbell Squat with Bands

  1. Set up the bands on the sleeves, secured to the rack's band pegs so that there is appropriate tension.
  2. Begin by stepping under the bar and placing it across the back of the shoulders. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and rotate your elbows forward, attempting to bend the bar across your shoulders. Remove the bar from the rack, creating a tight arch in your lower back, and step back into position.
  3. Place your feet wide for more emphasis on the back, glutes, adductors, and hamstrings.
  4. Keep your head facing forward. With your back, shoulders, and core tight, push your knees and butt out and you begin your descent.
  5. Sit back with your hips as much as possible. Ideally, your shins should be perpendicular to the ground.
  6. Lower bar position necessitates a greater torso lean to keep the bar over the heels.
  7. Continue until you break parallel, which is defined as the crease of the hip being in line with the top of the knee. Keeping the weight on your heels and pushing your feet and knees out, drive upward as you lead the movement with your head.
  8. Continue upward, maintaining tightness head to toe, until you have returned to the starting position.

Programming relevance

Muscles involved

Primary targets: Gluteus Maximus, Adductor Magnus, Biceps Femoris, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Vastus Lateralis.

MuscleScoreRole
Gluteus Maximus1.0Target, Mover
Adductor Magnus0.8Target, Mover
Biceps Femoris0.8Target, Mover
Semimembranosus0.8Target, Mover
Semitendinosus0.8Target, Mover
Vastus Lateralis0.8Target, Mover
Erector Spinae0.3Stabilizer
External Oblique0.3Stabilizer
Internal Oblique0.3Stabilizer
Rectus Abdominis0.3Stabilizer