[bambam]

Front squats will actually address these issues and help to correct them. When you are standing under the bar (weightless) as above, cross your arms at shoulder level and grip the bar in front of your shoulders, your palms will face the shoulders. Now lift your elbows even with the shoulders and make three wishes. No really, let the bar sit on the meaty part of your shoulder at the top of the arm; not on your collar bone (clavicle). Since we are all different, your exact hand placement will be established when you are able to stand in this position with your chest to it's full breadth and your back is lifted and not rounded. Really, get an image of a genie granting a wish; just not the genie in the animated 'Aladdin' voiced over by Robin Williams, even 'I Dream of Jeannie' would be a better example just don't get too distracted.

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Hope that helps. Vik

Thanks for the great post, Vickie!

My time in the weight room has been pretty well limited to whatever I had to do as part of various team sports training. As I'm getting older, I'm finding it much easier to get injured, and my desk job keeps me in much worse shape than when I playing basketball 6 or 7 days a week!

I wasn't in terrible shape and have worked out sporadically over the past several years, but with Bagger's help and encouragement, plus your great posts here, I've been working out regularly for a few months now and am enjoying it. Being somewhat of a noob, I'd not heard of the front squat. After a couple tries (with a bout of the stomach flu in between), I don't think I like that exercise...which probably means it's really good for me Even though I passed the back squat test, it'll be a regular part of my routine from now on. Thanks!