How much does squat depth impact muscle growth? Four decades past, images of ultimate wheelman Tom Platz still linger in the collective consciousness of squatters approaching the bar. Platz sank ass to grass. Was sinking as low as he could go a key reason his thighs expanded like beach balls? If dropping through parallel worked so well for the mutant who—let’s not argue—should’ve won the 1981 Mr. Olympia, then surely it’s best for us mere mortals, right? But what actually happens when you spelunk far down into the hole? The deeper you squat the more muscles you may feel being stimulated, but are those the ones you most want to expand? A new study discovered which muscles grow when you stop around parallel and which grow when you go all the way down.
SQUAT DEPTH STUDY
Two groups of young men did either full squats (through 140 degrees of knee flexion) or—with heavier weights for the same reps—what were called half squats (barely through 90 degrees of knee flexion) twice weekly for 10 weeks. Before and after the study, the researchers tested one-rep strength in the full squat and half squat for both groups and also measured (via magnetic resonance imaging) the muscle volumes of the subjects’ quads, hamstrings, adductors, and glutes.
The deep-squatters gained substantially more strength (nearly three times as much) in the deep squat compared to the parallel-squatters, while the latter group only gained a little more strength over the deep-squatters in the parallel squat. This makes sense because the deep-squatters are traveling through parallel on each rep, while the parallel-squatters are never visiting “The Deep.”
SQUAT DEPTH MUSCLE GROWTH
Busting an old myth: Neither squat group stimulated significant hamstrings growth. Those pesky biomechanics. Yes, the hams shorten as you descend, but not against tension. You could put your hands on the back of your legs while doing deep knee bends and feel the lack of flexion there. The same is true of your shortening triceps as you lower a biceps curl. Curls are not for triceps. And squats are not for hamstrings.
Both full squats and half squats were equally good at stimulating quadriceps growth: 4.9% and 4.6%, respectively. However, full squats really expanded the thigh adductors (6.2%) and glutes (6.7%), much more so than half squats (2.7% and 2.2%).
So, the deeper you go, the more you’re using your groin and your butt to power back up.
Because they involve more muscles, deep squats are better for stimulating overall lower body gains. Ultra-low and parallel are both about equally good at growing quads. But going deep is over twice as effective at expanding adductors and three times as proficient at butt enlargement. Understand what half and full do and don’t do, and select your squat depth accordingly. For more or less groin and glutes stimulation, consider switching up your squat depth occasionally.
opening photo: Alora Griffiths
