Roaring Mad Mac....

[madman]

Hey buddy -


I saw (in the pics forum) that you are getting a hack squat in in a couple of days. We have one at the university gym and I don't like it 'cause it hurts my knees. I can do butt to calf with over 500 on a regular squat and it doesn't hurt my knees at all - but 250 on the hack kill my knees. What's up with that? Am I placing my feet wrong? Should they be closer to the top of the foot platform than the bottom? I have been placing them closer to the bottom. Also - should the feet be wide - like a squat? I really would like to do hacks - because I know they build mass and strength - but help me with my knees!


Thanks Mac,


madman

[RoaringMad Mac]

Frommy experience placing your feet at the top of the platform puts less stress on your knee.Foot placement of course is determined on what part of your quad you want to work. I like to vary from actually going pigeon toe. to toes pointed out pressing through the heel.


Straight up and down puts all around stress on the quad.


Pigeon toe.will work the outside sweep of the quad,but Pigeon toe pushing with the Big toe will also put a lot of stress on the inner tear drop.


Toes, pointed outward I believe IMO work primarily on the inside sweep.


Just try and start placing you feet higher on the platform and see if that eases some of your knee pain.

[madman]

Mac,


Thanks for the info - it worked well and my quads are sore today! But the good news was I had no knee pain while doing the hacks using your advice.


madman

[RoaringMad Mac]

Good to hear it worked well for you. Hopefully our's will be comming in soon. keep up the good work. maybe one of these days we can all get together and have a good leg day session.

[madman]

Mac -


I know the kind of leg workout you are talking about! The kind I used to do in the military - we squated until one of us was barfing in the chalk bin (yeah - it happend more than once, and to more than one of us!)


Anyway - the lesson I learned from those few times of barfing was: NEVER eat before you squat - anything other than water in your stomach when you squat is gonna come up (I know you know what I'm saying Mac).


Take Care buddy - figured I'd bring back some more momories for you


madman

[RoaringMad Mac]

I know what you are saying brother. We actually used to get the 35 gallon garbage can and put a new bag in it just for those really bad days. Not necessarily for us but for the ones that wanted to squat with us on that day. I have had my times to when I would rack the bar and almost pass out so much blood was in my head from doing a heavy lift.


Man........Those bring back some memories.......I am getting chills just thinking about it. Thanks for the jolt. LOL It will make me train harder tommorow.