Squat technique with dumbbells

[SRP]

Hi all - I just need a little advice to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong. I have to shift from using a barbell to using dumbbells, because I have nerve entrapment in both elbows (like having carpal tunnel syndrome in the elbows). The point is, keeping them in severely bent angles, especially with weight on them, hurts.

I know that in some videos, Cathe uses dumbbells, and during the squats she holds them down in front of the body. Would it also be okay to rest them on the upper thighs and hold them there? It helps me to change position a lot, so my elbows don't get stuck in one position for long.

It feels okay when I do it - I don't feel out of balance or anything. But I want to make sure I'm not unkowingly throwing my body out of alignment, and that I'm still getting the maximum benefit from the weights.

Thank you, and everyone have a nice, long weekend.

 

[finsgirl]

In GS Legs she and her crew hold them out in front of them against their chest. That may be more comfortable for you.



Angie

 

[SRP]

Thanks, Angie - I think I know what you're talking about. The arms are bent, and you hold them up , sort of at shoulder level against your chest, right? The most comfortable for me, though, is to keep my arms as straight as possible.

 

[kathryn]

There are several positions you can use to do squats with dummbbells:
Held on the shoulders (I don't do this one, because it hurts!), held in front of the shoulders in an exaggerated "bicep curl" position (I like this one); held at your side (sometimes I don't like the way the pull of gravity feels on my arms here); or, if doing plié squats, held in the insertiong point of the quads (right in the fold between hips and legs when you bend your legs). There might be other ones as well, but whatever you chose, make sure it's comfortable and you can hold good form when doing it.