Abstract

For the development of speed strength in professional sports, “specific” strength training in the half or the quarter squat have been recommended. Due to the better lever ratios, higher loads have to be used to induce the necessary training stimuli compared to the deep squat. Therefore, intradiscal pressure and compressive forces on vertebral bodies increase. Calculated compressive forces for the L3/L4 vertebral segment were revealed to be 6–10-fold bodyweight when the half or the quarter squat was performed with 0.8–1.6-fold bodyweight. After 10 weeks of training, physical education students have even been able to lift 3.89-fold bodyweight in the one repetition maximum (1-RM) of the quarter squat. The presented dependence of squatting depth, load and their influence on the spinal column have not been discussed before. A search for relevant scientific literature was conducted using PubMed. Concerns about increased risk of injuries in the deep squat have been disproven by plenty of cross-sectional studies with professional athletes. On the contrary, the comparably supramaximal weight loads in the half and the quarter squat should be regarded as increasing injury risks caused by the higher shear and compressive forces in the vertebral column. Therefore, we come to the conclusion that the half and the quarter squat should not further be recommended.

1. Introduction

The barbell squat can typically be classified into three fundamental variations, which are the front squat, the high-bar and the low-bar back squat. The comparison of back squats shows that higher loads can be managed the low-bar one because of the larger hip flexion [1]. This is why this variation is used in powerlifting [1]. Further, squatting depth may be varied: for the quarter squat, knees are flexed until knee angles of 110°–140° [2,3] are reached. The half squat is performed with knee angles at 80°–100° [2,4]. For the parallel squat, the inguinal fold is moved in a straight horizontal line with the top of the knee musculature, which leads to knee angles between 60° and 70° [5]. The turning point of the deep squat is typically at a 40°–45° [1,2,4,6] knee angle. The goal of strength training in sports is either to increase muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) via a hypertrophy-oriented training regimen or to improve intra and inter-muscular coordination via maximal contractions. In hypertrophy-oriented training, intensities of 70%–90% 1-RM (5–12 RM, 3–6 sets per exercise) [7,8,9] in a periodized alteration [7,8,10] and, depending on the exercise, with inter-serial rest of 1–3 [7,8,9,10,11,12] or even 4 min [11] are recommended for advanced trainees. In a meta-analysis of 2004, Fry [13] stressed the importance of the habitual use of ≥80% 1-RM to produce maximal hypertrophy in trained individuals. Training with maximal contractions is accomplished with the method of maximal-explosive strength actions moving high loads under the avoidance of fatigue effects (90%–100% 1-RM, 1–3 reps, 3–5 sets, rest between sets of ≥5 min) [9,14]. Angle-specific strength training is based on the idea of exercising only in the range of motion in which competition exercises actually take place [3,15]. Consequently, it has been recommended to improve speed strength performance in track and field disciplines [3] and games [15,16] via “specific” strength training in the half and quarter squat.

Because of the better lever ratios in the half [4] and quarter squat [17], considerably higher loads compared to the deep squat are necessary to induce the required training stimuli in hip and leg extensor muscles. Wirth and Zawieja [18] postulated target values of 1.5–2.0-fold bodyweight for the deep squat in the course of a perennial training structure for athletes. These target values should be seen as a minimum, which is nearly impossible to fall short of if training is performed continuously and seriously. More specific target values are dependent on the kind of sport. For professional soccer players, Hoff and Helgerud [16] recommend a relative strength of 2.75-fold bodyweight in the half back squat.

An increase in load increases compressive forces on vertebral bodies [19] and intervertebral discs [20]. Furthermore, higher loads demand more stabilizing work and therefore higher trunk muscle activity [21,22,23] to counteract damaging anterior shear forces on intervertebral discs [23]. For the half back squat, Dintiman and Ward [24] have described the following performance standards: 1.5× bodyweight represents a very poor, 1.8× bodyweight a poor, 2.1× bodyweight an average, and 2.7× bodyweight a good performance level. It has been reported that participants of a rather poor [17,25] to good performance level [26] reached relative loads of 2.2- to 2.7-fold bodyweight in the half squat after only 5–8 weeks [25,26] and even 3.89-fold bodyweight in the quarter squat after 10 weeks of training [17]. These associations between load level and squatting depth have not been discussed in reviews that have regarded stresses applied on the vertebral column [27].

The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the stress for vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs with respect to squatting depth based on the literature on the lumbar spinal region. Therefore, published estimates of acting compressive forces on L3/L4 and L5/S1 vertebral segments in the half and quarter squat are used to calculate overload damages and structural adaptations of passive tissues of the vertebral column.

2. Materials and Methods

A literature search of PubMed (Available online: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) was conducted including all relevant publications using the following search terms: weightlifting spine, squat spine, weightlifting bone mineral density, in vivo measurements of intradiscal pressure, weightlifting injuries, resistance training injury, dynamic loading cartilage explants and dynamic loading cartilage cells.

3. Results

Two publications were found that had calculated compressive forces acting on vertebral segments L3/L4 [19] and L5/S1 [28] while squatting. In three publications, loads normalized by bodyweight for different squatting variations after 5–10 weeks of training were reported [17,25,26]. Four cross-sectional studies could be found that reported data on the extent and incidence of abnormalities of the vertebral column in weightlifters compared to controls and athletes of different sports [29,30,31,32]. Another four publications used three-dimensional movement analysis techniques to investigate the movements of the lumbar spinal region during squats [33,34,35,36].

Maximal axial compressive strength of lumbar vertebrae and segments have been presented in five studies [37,38,39,40,41]. The reported values are shown in

Table 1. Maximal compressive strength of the L5 vertebral body and the L5/S1 vertebral segments (average values).

Author	n	Structure	Compressive Strength (N)
Jäger and Luttmann [40]	17	L5	5000
	8	L5/S1-disc	8000

and

Table 2. Maximal compressive strength of lumbar vertebral bodies and segments.

Author	Structure	Compressive Strength (N)	Age (Years)	Sex
Hutton et al. [39]	L3	12,931	46	male
	L5	15,559	21	male
Porter et al. [41]	L2/L3	13,954	25	male
Brinckmann et al. [37]	L3/L4	6200	22	female
	L3/L4	8200	39	male
	L4/L5	8800	22	male
Hutton and Adams [38]	L5/S1	12,740	22	male

In the case of the displayed maximal compressive strength, vertebral bodies were limiting the measures of Brinckmann et al. [37] and Hutton and Adams [38], while Porter et al. [41] reported failure of the intervertebral discs.

. Maximal axial compressive force is the amount of force (Newton) applied on a vertebral body or a vertebral segment that leads to failure. A vertebral segment is defined as an intervertebral disc with its two vertebral bodies. If the applied stress is a combination of high axial compressive and shear forces in a ventrally-flexed position, the intervertebral disc prolapses [42]. However, if axial compressive force represents the applied stress alone, vertebral bodies are the weakest link, and fractures occur [37,38,40]. Under these circumstances, intervertebral discs can withstand higher forces compared to vertebral bodies.

Axial rotational movements in vertebral segments are primarily restricted through fibers of the annulus pulposus [43]. For each rotational direction, only 50% of all fibers are useful as only those bent in the direction of torque [44]. If synchronously, a ventral flexion is induced, only those 50% of already bent fibers are stressed [44]. Therefore, a combination of axial compression and torsion in a ventrally-flexed position can only rely on 50% of the mechanically-induced stability of the vertebral segment [44], which leads to an increased risk for a discus prolapse [45]. An increased potential for damage can already be expected with shear forces of 150 N [46] and axial rotation torque of 20 Nm [46].

The average age and sex of specimen have not been reported in detail in the publication of Jäger and Luttmann [40]. The spinal segments had been part of a large number of specimens (n = 441) with an age range from 10–90 years.

To our knowledge, the experimentally-determined maximum for tolerated compressive forces of the L5 vertebral body is 15,559 N (see Table 2).

4. Discussion

4.1. Comparison of the Calculated Compressive Forces in the Half and Quarter Squat with Experimentally-Determined Strength Values of Vertebral Bodies and Segments

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no calculations about the compressive forces of the lumbar spine between different squatting depths with maximal loads. These estimates are therefore extrapolated from the existing literature. Cappozzo et al. [19] calculated compressive forces on the L3/L4 segment for four subjects, who performed squats with turning points at a 112° down to an 87° knee angle. Weights of between 0.8- and 1.6-fold bodyweight resulted in compressive forces of 6–10-fold bodyweight at the turning point of the squat (3100–7340 N). With increasing loads, these authors calculated a raise in compressive forces acting on the vertebral bodies [19] that led to increases of intradiscal pressure [20]. For soccer players performing the half back squat for a period of eight weeks, Helgerud et al. [25] have presented significant increases in 1-RM half squat (49.2%, p ≤ 0.001) with improvements from 1.5-fold bodyweight (115.7 ± 23.1 kg) to 2.2-fold bodyweight (176.4 ± 18.2 kg). Cormie et al. [47] have reported that untrained male subjects were able to perform 1-RM in the half squat with 1.4-fold bodyweight without familiarization sessions. Rønnestad [26] had the ability to perform a 1-RM in the half squat with 2.2-fold bodyweight (150.0 ± 15.3 kg) as inclusion criteria for his study. However, his participants (recreational sportsmen) showed significant gains of 24.2% (p ≤ 0.01) to 186.4 ± 21.9 kg in five weeks of training, which is an increase to 2.7-fold bodyweight. Physical education students exercising the quarter squat to a 120° knee angle for a period of 10 weeks increased their performance on average from 2.87- (220.00 ± 42.16 kg) to 3.89-fold bodyweight (297.89 ± 41.58 kg) (37.5%, p ≤ 0.05) [17]. Thus, the L3/L4 vertebral segment would have to tolerate compressive forces of more than 17-fold bodyweight in the half [26] and more than 20-fold in the quarter squat [17]. The calculated compressive forces in the half squat after five weeks of training [26] and 10 weeks of training in the quarter squat [17] sum up to 12,359 N and 14,648 N, respectively, which clearly exceeds the maximally-tolerated values presented in Table 2. For the deadlift (212–335 kg, relative strength 3.5 to 4.4× bodyweight), Granhed et al. [48] have reported even higher axial compressive forces on the L3 vertebral body of 18,800–36,400 N in six elite powerlifters (bodyweight: 59–93 kg). Calculations had been performed via data extracted from movement analysis.

For the loading peaks in the squat, which were analyzed by Cappozzo et al. [19] through ground-reaction forces, they have been far beyond 1 s. For the parallel squat in the study of Lander et al. [28], only relative time scales were used without information about their duration. However, Jäger and Luttmann [49] argued that (calculated) dynamic compressive forces could not be compared to experimentally-determined strength values, since loading peaks of less than a one-second duration may be tolerated by intervertebral discs (in vivo) because of their viscoelastic properties. Therefore, a transfer to in vivo situations should be done restrainedly. Nevertheless, those comparisons raise the question to what extent a performance-oriented strength training including the half and/or quarter squat, which demands comparatively supramaximal loads (with the deep squat), increases the risk of injury for the spine, especially in female athletes. For example, female sport students (n = 23), who were mostly inexperienced with strength training, were already able to perform the quarter squat with 2.49-fold bodyweight in the pretest [17]. Due to the significantly smaller female corpus vertebrae [50], their vertebral bodies tolerate significantly less maximal compressive forces than men’s [51]. Consequently, if equivalent compressive forces are applied, the axial stress is higher for female vertebral bodies [50]. This should especially be accounted for in the training regimen for young athletes. Furthermore, Zatsiorsky and Kraemer [15] emphasized the importance of stabilization by the trunk muscles (especially erector spinae) when performing squats to counteract potentially damaging anterior shear forces on intervertebral discs resulting from ventral flexion [23]. However, the utilization of comparatively supramaximal loads in the half and quarter squat increases the risk of not being able to stabilize the thoracic and lumbar spinal region. Therefore, the probability of ventral flexion under these circumstances rises, which increases the risk of a disc prolapse [42].

4.2. Comparison of the Calculated Compressive Forces in the Parallel and Deep Squat with Experimentally-Determined Strength Values of Vertebral Bodies and Segments

After 10 weeks of training, two groups of physical education students increased their performance in the deep front squat on average from 1.01-fold (73.00 ± 26.48 kg) to 1.26-fold bodyweight (90.88 ± 25.61 kg) and in the deep back squat from 1.12-fold (80.25 ± 30.28 kg) to 1.41-fold bodyweight (101.50 ± 30.00 kg) (29%–30%, p ≤ 0.05) [17]. The calculated compressive forces [19] of 3100–7324 N in the lumbar region (L3/L4 vertebral segment) are, according to Table 2, within the range of tolerance for a 39-year-old male subject.

According to Lander et al. [28], the calculated axial compressive forces on the L5/S1 vertebral segment were on average 9983 N at the turning point in the parallel squat with 70%–90% 1-RM (intensity range of hypertrophy-oriented training [7,8,9]). Indeed, this calculated value exceeds the average values of 6000–8000 N presented in Table 1, but it has to be taken into account that those experiments had been performed on very heterogeneous cadavers [40]. The maximally-tolerated compressive force is dependent on sex, age, size of corpus vertebrae [40,51], bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) [52]. For example, the maximally-tolerated compressive force in the L5/S1 vertebral segment of a 22-year-old male (ex-vivo) was 12,740 N and therefore within the calculated range by Lander et al. [28]. Furthermore, the participants (n = 6) in the study by Lander et al. [28] were able to perform 1-RM in the parallel squat with 2.38-fold bodyweight, which can only be achieved after several years of intensive strength training.

In comparison, using the half squat as training exercise, similar values have been achieved by soccer players after only eight weeks [25]. It can be expected that compressive stress on the spine applied for several years, as for example in weightlifters [53] and powerlifters [48], leads to structural adaptations of vertebral bodies (L2–L4). Those include increased BMD [53] and BMC [48], which result in higher maximally-tolerated compressive forces, as there is a linear, positive relationship between maximal compressive strength and BMD (r = 0.91; p ≤ 0.00001) and BMC (r = 0.84; p ≤ 0.00001) (L3) [52]. Further, a cross-sectional study with 25 elite young weightlifters (17.4 ± 1.4 years) with more than 2.5 years of strength training experience (on average) revealed significantly increased values in BMD of L2–L4 (33%; p ≤ 0.05) compared to an age-matched control group (n = 11) without group differences for body height and weight. Moreover, their BMD was 13% (p ≤ 0.05) higher compared to reference values of 400 males aged between 20 and 39 years [53]. A follow-up investigation showed that another year of weightlifting training increased those values even further [54] (p. 119). Lang et al. [55] and Loehr et al. [56] detected statistically-significant increases in BMD of L1–L2 of between 7% and 12.3% after four months of periodized strength training in parallel squats and deadlifts (6–10 RM, [55]; 70%–80% 1-RM [56]). Compared to young women, young men gained statistically significantly more in BMD of the lumbar spine (2.7%–7.7% vs. −0.8%–1.5%) after six months of periodized strength training using the same training exercises (67%–95% 1-RM). Intragroup changes were not analyzed statistically [57]. The remodelling processes of bones range from 4–6 months [58]. Based on these facts, Chilibeck et al. [59] emphasized the importance of strength training periods that last two to three times longer than this adaptation period to bring about substantial improvements in BMD. Several other studies with male [60,61,62] and female [63] long time weightlifters have reported significantly increased BMD values in comparison with controls [60,61,62,63] and athletes of other sports, as for example cycling, cross-country skiing and orienteering [63].

Concerns about an increased risk of injury performing the deep squat have been disproven by plenty of cross-sectional studies with weightlifters. Neither the extent nor the prevalence of spinal abnormalities was increased compared to other athletes [29,30,32] or controls [30,31]. Compared to controls (non and recreational sportsmen) that were age and gender matched (n = 1347), Dalichau and Scheele [31] determined a tendency toward an increasing kyphosis and inclination in the sagittal projection for 29 active weightlifters (C7–S2). These athletes were aged 27.5 years and had a sporting exposure of 10.3 years. Dalichau and Scheele [31] (p. 119) stated: “After examining sports-specific mechanic demands and taking account of the epidemiological investigations of incidence and prevalence of spinal injuries in weight lifting the results evaluated are to interpret as a functional adaptation of the spinal curvature to the weight lifting-specific straining (sic) profile”.

Granhed et al. [48] reported that L3 bone mineral content correlated (r = 0.90) with the yearly load (300–5000 tons) of eight elite powerlifters, which indicates a positive influence of the volume of strength training on the development of BMC. Sabo et al. [62] have also presented data of 28 male weightlifters, whose weekly load was 68 tons, with significantly higher BMD values of their lumbar vertebral bodies (L1–L4) (24% compared to age-matched controls). Tszuzuku et al. [64] have even found a significant correlation (r = 0.74; p ≤ 0.05) between 1-RM in the parallel squat and BMD of L2–L4 in ten powerlifters (mean age: 20.7 years).

It can also be expected that intervertebral discs adapt to years of strength training. Many animal studies lasting 3–15 weeks with dogs [65,66] and rats [67,68] confirm the positive effects of training in different parcours (running, jumping, crawling) [65] and of treadmill training [66,67,68] on nutrition status [65] and on the structure of intervertebral discs [66,67,68]. For example, in vivo experiments with rats have shown that caudal nucleus and annulus pulposus positively adapted after two weeks of dynamic compression with 1 MPa, which is about three-fold bodyweight [69]. However, most mammalian species possess notochordal cells in the nucleus pulposus at birth, but unlike humans, maintain them throughout much of their adulthood. Notochordal cells have been suggested to be progenitor and/or organizer cells [70]. “They may directly synthesize matrix proteins and eventually differentiate into the mature chondrocytic nucleus cells or they may help to recruit and co-ordinate other mesenchymal cells to synthesize the extracellular matrix” [70] (p. 3). Therefore, findings gathered from animals that maintain notochordal cells well into adult life should be interpreted cautiously [70]. However, Ishihara et al. [71] have reported an increase in proteoglycan metabolism in human vertebral discs (explants) stressed with 2.5 MPa, while it decreased if pressure was increased to 7.5 MPa. For a comparison, a male (70 kg) lifting a beer case (20 kg) from a squatting position already exhibits values of 1.7 MPa (L4/L5) [72]. This is an apparent contradiction to reports of catabolic metabolic reactions of cellular cultures of nucleus pulposus at a pressure of 2.5 MPa [73]. However, several papers have shown that the missing extracellular matrix in single-layered cellular cultures causes them to react differently to mechanic stimuli [70,74], which is why explants [71] are physiologically of higher relevance. In comparison with untrained controls, Tittel [75] diagnosed larger lengthwise and cross-sectional diameters of vertebral bodies of lower thoracic and all lumbar vertebral bodies in strength training athletes with several years of experience. Those economic enlargements had still been detectable even 10 years after the athletic career ended. Moreover, Neumann et al. [76] have reported a positive and linear correlation between BMD of vertebral bodies (ex vivo) and tensile strength (r = 0.84, p ≤ 0.05), as well as the stiffness of ligamentum longitudinal anterior (r = 0.78, p ≤ 0.05). In vivo, this would represent an increased passive stability of vertebral segments. In combination with the gain in BMD, enlargement in vertebral body surface area and well-trained trunk musculature, one can state that strength training on a regular basis shows a protective effect.

4.3. Incidence and Risk of Injuries of the Vertebral Column in Deep Squats

In weightlifting, athletes perform deep front and back squats, as well as pull and assistance exercises. Both demand high accelerations and loads. International elite weightlifters exercise regularly 10-times per week with 400 and more reps and 70–90 tons of weight in high volume training periods [14]. X-ray images of weightlifters (n = 25, average age: 31.5 years) do not reveal a higher extent of degenerative changes of the spine compared to track and field athletes (n = 25; average age: 27.0 years) [29]. By means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of T6/7 to L5/S1, Baranto et al. [30] have reported weightlifters (n = 21) and ice hockey players (n = 19) to have the highest prevalence of degenerative disc abnormalities compared to other professional sportsmen (e.g., wrestlers (n = 13) and orienteering (n = 18)). However, the differences have not been statistically significant even in comparison with untrained, age-matched controls (n = 21). A 15-year follow-up diagnosis revealed a deterioration of existing abnormalities in all four groups of athletes that mainly included disc degeneration, which was diagnosed in more than 90% of the athletes. These abnormalities eased to some degree in 88% of the athletes, with the highest probabilities for weightlifters and ice-hockey players, but most of them had been ice hockey players [30]. In a recent review about possible adaptations and degenerative changes of intervertebral discs depending on a particular sport, the authors have come to the conclusion that “sports including, swimming, baseball, weightlifting, rowing and equestrian riding are more likely to lead to disc degeneration” [77]. However, their statement about an increased incidence of degenerative effects of weightlifting had only been based on two studies [78,79]. One study, with monozygotic twins, determined higher disc degeneration in the T6 to T12 region for the twins who performed weightlifting compared to the twins who executed endurance sports. There were no degenerative changes present in the lumbar spine of the weightlifters [79]. However, these weightlifters had already been training in a time when the standing press or “military press” was still an Olympic exercise. Due to missing guidelines [80] and the high injury risk of this exercise [81], it was abandoned in 1972 [80,81]. The same problem exists for the majority of weightlifters in the study by Baranto et al. [30] and Granhed and Morelli [78]. Unfortunately, in their review Belavy et al. [77] did not refer to the strong positive indications of other research groups in this field [31,32].

In contrast, four epidemiological studies, lasting 2.5–6 years, have not revealed any major injuries of the spine in competitive weightlifters [82,83,84,85]. Furthermore, MRI scans of lumbar spines of former elite athletes have not shown any statistically-significant differences for vertebral body height (L1/2 to L5/S1) or lumbar flexibility between weightlifters (n = 29, 59.4 years), long-distance runners (n = 27, 59.6 years), shooters (n = 28, 61.1 years) and soccer players (n = 30, 56.6 years) [32]. According to Baranto et al. [30], the prevalence of disc abnormalities (e.g., reduced intervertebral disc height) of professional weightlifters (n = 10, 42.0 years) is similar to untrained age-matched controls (n = 10). In addition, the incidence of back pain has been reported to be less (23% vs. 31%) in former weightlifters (n = 13) compared to the general population (n = 716) [78]. According to this, it may be concluded that intervertebral discs in humans are able to adapt to exercise-induced compressive forces in weightlifting training. In the long run, those adaptations lead to an increased stress tolerance.

Walsh et al. [36] reported a statistically significantly (p ≤ 0.01) increased extension in the lumbar spinal region with growing loads (40%–80% 1-RM) in 48 strength-trained participants performing the half squat. Therefore, Walsh et al. [36] postulate a performance-oriented strength training in the half squat to increase the risk of injury in the lumbar spine. This assumption is further based on ex vivo measurements in the L4/L5 segments [86]: during axial compression of 2000 N, an extension by 2° compared to 0° statistically significantly increased intradiscal pressure within the posterior annulus. The concerns by Walsh et al. [36] are unfounded, as the angle of the hip also changes. This is why in the deep squat at the turning point, the risk of delordosing of the lumbar spine is raised [35]. Video analyses have shown males exhibiting a smaller anterior pelvic tilt and a larger ventral flexion of the lumbar spine during the lowering phase of the parallel squat compared to females (p ≤ 0.001) [35]. The gender differences could result from larger range of motion in the hip in females [87]. However, participants performed squats with submaximal loads of 0.5-fold bodyweight. Higher loads should also increase the risk of delordosing in females. Lander et al. [88] analyzed the parallel squat of five strength-training experienced males with 75%–80% 1-RM. Induced fatigue led to increased upper body tilt. Trafimov et al. [89] confirmed that a fatigued quadriceps femoris affected lifting technique with regard to performing a back lift rather than a squat lift. However, an increased upper body tilt raises the risk of ventral flexion of the thoracic and the lumbar spine [33].

To minimize delordosing, it is necessary to start extension before the turning point. This can be achieved with increased activity of the erector spinae, which keeps intervertebral distances constant due to the closing of the apophyseal joints and therefore reduces anterior shear forces on discs [23]. Weightlifters also have to remain in lordosis at movement onset in snatch and clean. Calhoon and Fry [83] reported an incidence of 3.3 injuries per 1000 h of weightlifting training in 27 Olympic weightlifters in a period of six years. Training interruption of one day or less accounted for 87.3% of injuries concerning the lower back, while the remaining cases interrupted training for less than one week. Based on a questionnaire for 13–16-year-old weightlifters (n = 1634), Hamill [84] reported a prevalence for injury of 0.0017 per 100 h. Therefore, the rate of injury is less than in basketball (0.03), track and field (0.57), American football (0.1) and gymnastics (0.044) [84].

Byrd et al. [82] could not document any kind of injury or training interruption in 11 adolescent weightlifters (three females: 13.7 ± 1.2 years; eight males: 12.5 ± 1.6 years) in an observational period of 29 months in which they had performed 534 trials in competitions. In a retrospective study (four years) with 1109 weightlifters aged 12–20 years, who had participated in national and international competitions, no injuries that induced a chirurgic treatment or a hospital stay were reported [85].

4.4. Risk of Injuries of the Knee Joint and Vertebral Column Due to the Restriction of the Anterior Knee Displacement in the Squat

If the parallel or the deep squat are performed with the spine remaining as vertical as possible, the anterior movement of the knee exceeds the toes (unrestricted movement). This has been regarded with concern by practitioners, as retropatellar pressure and tibiofemoral shear forces have been expected to increase and cause cartilage damage. Based on a literature review, we have been able to show that this is without any reason [90]. For the restricted movement, it is recommended that the tibia should move anteriorly only to the point where the knee joints and the toes form a vertical line [91]. Fry et al. [91] calculated statistically-significant increases in peak torque of the knee joint at the turning point in seven male subjects performing the back squat (with 1.0-fold bodyweight) without this movement restriction. The average knee angles at the turning point were 66.1° compared to the restricted condition that was performed to 73.4°. However, based on Figure 1, the restricted condition in the high-bar squat bears the risk of ventral flexion of the spine and cannot be considered as a correct execution of the squat. Lorenzetti et al. [34] confirmed these results for the unrestricted condition and reported statistically significantly higher relative knee joint torque of 25% (p < 0.05) with 0.5-fold bodyweight. In this case, however, the turning point in the range of motion restricted variation for their 20 subjects had been on average 91° (= half squat). This was, again, confirmed by that workgroup with more participants (n = 30) [33].

If the dependence of squatting depth and load and their influence on the enlargement of the retropatellar articular surface are taken into account, usage of comparably supramaximal weight loads in the half squat lead to higher torques and therefore higher pressure in the tibio- and patello-femoral joints. The greatest retropatellar compressive forces (in N) [92,93,94] and highest compressive stresses (N/mm², in MPa) [93,95] are observed at 90°. With increasing flexion of the knee joint in the deep squat, a cranial displacement of facet contact areas with continuous enlargement of the retropatellar articulating surface occurs [93,95,96,97]. The additional contact between the quadriceps tendon and the intercondylar notch as the tendofemoral support surface (“wrapping effect” [92]) contributes to an improved load distribution and enhanced force transfer [92,93,94,95,98]. Both factors (increasing facet contact areas, wrapping effect) reduce retropatellar compressive forces [92,93,94,98] and stresses [93,95]. Furthermore, the soft tissue contact between the back of the thigh and the calf plays an important role in reducing the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint forces beyond 60°–40° of knee extension in the deep squat [99,100], depending on the cross-sectional area of the hamstrings and the calf muscles [101]. Besides lower weights, deep squats benefit from these relief effects that compensate for increases in knee-joint torques due to unrestricted forward movement of the knee, provided that the heels stay in contact with the ground. These factors cannot arise when an evasive movement of the trunk is performed owing to the restriction of the forward movement of the knees. The accomplishment of the half squat with supramaximal loads will endanger the knee joint by degenerative changes in the long term [90]. In addition, Lorenzetti et al. [34] reported statistically significantly higher relative torques in the hip joint at the turning point (14.6%; p < 0.05), when the half squat was performed under restricted anterior knee movement. Fry et al. [91] even reported 10-fold higher peak torques in the hip joint under this condition. These higher torque values in the hip joint bring additional increases in compressive forces at the sacroiliac joint and, therefore, the lumbar spinal region when performing the half squat with supramaximal loads. The restriction of the forward knee displacement will result in greater forward leaning [91] with the risk of ventral flexion of the thoracic and lumbar spine [33]. This evasive movement induces greater anterior shear forces on intervertebral discs [23] and elicits tensile forces on intervertebral ligaments [23,102]. The load combination of high-axial compressive and shear forces in ventral flexion increases the risk of a spinal discus prolapse [42].

The instruction about a restriction of the forward knee displacement is a misinterpretation of the existing literature (for a discussion, see [90]). It is strongly emphasized that this instruction should not be further recommended.

5. Conclusions

To achieve the necessary intensities for a hypertrophy-oriented training or even training with maximal contractions in the half or the quarter squat, loads have to be supramaximal compared to the deep or the parallel squat. Physical activity students were able to lift a 2.8-fold load in the quarter squat compared to the deep back squat and even a 3.17-fold load of the deep front squat [17]. After 10 weeks of training intervention, this relation rose significantly to 4.02 (p = 0.0001) and 4.38 (p = 0.0001) [17]. However, participants were in danger of collapsing at their thoracic spine during training and testing. Back extensors had been the limiting factor [17]. The multiplicated axial compressive forces in the L3/L4 vertebral segment could reach 20-fold bodyweight. Strength training-experienced subjects could lift even higher loads: taking values of a powerlifter performing the deep back squat [103] with 250 kg, he could lift 1005 kg in the quarter squat. This is impossible in practice. A load like this cannot be stabilized by the trunk and the thoracic spine. Therefore, it would be impossible to introduce the necessary intensity to reach further adaptations of the hip and leg extensors.

On the other hand, there are plenty of studies showing no increased risk of injury in the lumbar spinal segment when performing the deep squat in weightlifting [29,30,31,82,83,84,85]. The perennial training structure of athletes focuses on minimal goals of 1.5–2.0-fold bodyweight in the deep squat [18]. This leads to less shear and compressive forces for vertebral segments compared to supramaximal loads necessary in the half and quarter squat. Keiner et al. [104] recommended minimal reference values for the parallel front and back squat for up-and-coming players after 4–5 years of strength training experience with 2.0-fold bodyweight for 16–19-year-old, 1.5-fold bodyweight for 13–15-year-old and 0.7-fold bodyweight for 11–12-year-old players. Those recommendations have been cited and advocated by others [105,106,107,108,109]. For parallel front and back squats, we, like others [24], recommend relative strength values of 2.0–2.5-fold bodyweight for adult athletes.

Another publication from the same project [110] has been used in the “position statement on youth resistance training: the 2014 international consensus” [111] as proof that periodized strength training using the parallel squat is unproblematic for children and adolescents as long as movement execution is technically correct at all times and loads are enhanced slowly. Preferential bone formation on the periosteal surface [112,113,114] is facilitated by exercise during growth, especially before puberty. Substantial skeletal benefits may be expected during pre and early puberty (“window of opportunity”) and become considerably smaller thereafter [115]. Therefore, early beginning of strength training during pre-puberty is no recommendation for improving health and athletic performance, it is a commandment (see [116]).

Provided that movement execution is taught by professionals and loads are enhanced according to the adaptive processes in the passive tissue, the parallel and the deep squat lead to structurally significant long-term improvements. Several studies have shown the deep and the parallel squat to induce more strain and therefore lead to better development of muscle cross-sectional area of the lower extremity [117], dynamic maximal strength [17,117], speed-strength capacity in squat jump [117] and countermovement jump [17] compared to the quarter squat. Even for the half squat, it seems questionable if comparable adaptive stimuli can be generated in the long term. Taking into account the increased risk of injury caused by the higher shear and compressive forces in the vertebral column and the knee joint, we come to the conclusion that the half and the quarter squat should not further be recommended.