INTRODUCTION

In comparing a lunging squat with a regular squat, we wanted to see if either of the two types of lunges would be more effective for people with less knee strength. Our subject is an avid weight lifter and wanted to know which of these two types of squats would be less stressful on his knees. Our research would give us the knowledge which would enable us to more effectively design a weight training program that would be tailored to individuals who may have ruptured or torn various parts of the knee joint. We would also be able to make judgments about the injuries suffered during heavy squat lifting.

Squatting is frequently used to strengthen the lower extremity muscle groups consisting of the four quadriceps (vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and rectus femoris, and the sartorius), the three hamstrings (biceps femoris, semitendinosis, and semimembranosis), and the gluteus maximus and minimus. Injuries often occur to the knee by rupturing the patellar tendon while squatting. Another frequent injury is the pulling or slight tearing of the groin muscles (adductor longus, brevis, magnus, and minimus) when loads exceed the limit of the muscle group.

Our purpose was to compare the squatting motion in two different types of squats in college-aged men. We were interested in the differences and similarities between the hip and knee joint angles and angular velocities, linear motion of the knee, and position of the center of mass. Specifically, we looked at the thigh segment angle and angular velocity and angle-angles plots to further analyze our motions. In order to find differences and similarities, we considered such questions as: Do joint velocities about the knee differ between the two cases? Does the subject crouch down when doing one squat or the other? How is the subjects center of mass affected by the position of the knees during either squat? To answer these questions we looked to our data. From these in-depth questions, we hope to be able to apply our research to a practical application about squat injuries.