LB – GLUTES/THIGHS – X – BAR SQUATS – FRONT vs. BACK – RESEARCH


2 SQUATS – FRONT vs. BACK – RESEARCH


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MOMENT ARM & EMG STUDY


KNEE JOINT FORCES & EMG for QUADRICEPS, ERECTOR SPINAE
– Front Squat vs. Back Squat

A Biomechanical Comparison of Back and Front Squats in Healthy Trained Individuals – 2009 – Gullett
Procedure
– To assess the net force and torque placed on the knee and muscle activation levels
– A combination of video and force data, as well as surface EMG data, were collected from 15 healthy trained individuals.
Moments and Forces Results
Knee Flexion: Maximum forces and moments occurred at 95° of Knee Flexion (KFA) during the ascent phase.
EMG Results
Rectus Femoris: Back 70% . Front 55%
Vastus Lateralis: Back 60% . Front 60%
Vastus Medialis: Back 80% . Front 80%
+ Erector Spinae: Back 55% . Front 50%
– The back squat resulted in significantly higher compressive forces and knee extensor moments than the front squat.
– Shear forces at the knee were small in magnitude, posteriorly directed, and did not vary between the squat variations.
– The front squat was as effective as the back squat in terms of overall muscle recruitment, with significantly less compressive forces and extensor moments.

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EMG STUDIES


GLUTES, QUADS, HAMSTRINGS, ERECTOR SPINAE
– Front Squat vs. Back Squat

EMG during front and back squat variations in maximum loads – 2016 – Yavuz
Subjects
experienced at front and back squats
Procedure
– EMG: front and back squat exercises with maximum loading
Results – MVIC%
Gluteus Maximus: front squat 47% . back squat 47%
Rectus Femoris: front squat 46% . back squat 37%
Vastus Lateralis: front squat 51% . back squat 47%
Vastus Medialis: front squat 55% . back squat 49%
+ Erector Spinae: front squat 46%back squat 43%

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GLUTEUS MAXIMUS & MEDIUS, QUADS, ADDUCTOR LONGUS, ERECTOR SPINAE
– Full & Parallel Back Squat, Full Front Squat, Wide Squat, Wide Squat with toes out

Gluteal, Quads, Adductor Longus, and Lower Back Muscles in Different Squat Variations Performed by Competitive Bodybuilders – 2021 – Coratella
Procedure
– 10 male competitive bodybuilders perform back-squat at 80% 1-RM:
(1) full back squat (F-BS)
(2) parallel back squat (P-BS) 
(3) wide stance – sumo (WS-BS)
(4) wide stance sumo feet external rotated (WS-ER-BS)
(5) parallel front-squat (P-FS)
Results
Gluteus Maximus: Parallel Front 80 . WS-ER-BS 65 . Parallel Back 60Full Back 55 . WS-BS 50
Gluteus Medius: Parallel Front 32 . WS-ER-BS 28Full Back 28Parallel Back 27 . WS-BS 26
Rectus Femoris: Parallel Front 105 . WS-ER-BS 85 . WS-BS 85Parallel Back 80 . Full Back 80
Vastus Lateralis: WS-ER-BS 95WS-BS 90 . Full Back 75 . Parallel Back 70 . Parallel Front 70
Vastus Medialis: WS-ER-BS 125WS-BS 110Full Back 110  . Parallel Front 110 . Parallel Back 90
+ Adductor Longus: WS-ER-BS 60 . WS-BS 50Parallel Back 40 . Full Back 40 . Parallel Front 30
+ Erector Spinalis Longissimus
: Full Back 105WS-BS 100WS-ER-BS 95Parallel Back 90Parallel Front 85
+ Erector Spinalis Iliocostalis: Parallel Front 32 Full Back 30WS-ER-BS 30Parallel Back 28 . WS-BS 25

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