How to Ruin Your Knees and Back 2024

[@teedee6176]

Those who say no squat after 50 most likely didn't squat at 30 or any age!

[@ethidian3444]

I did barbell squats and deadlifts as a teenager in a high school class and got a chronic back injury and eventually had to drop out of high school. My injury was never reported as an injury at school. There is no real data on injury rates from exercises, but it is a fact that barbell squats put pressure on your spine that can exacerbate developing back issues. Tens of millions of Americans who don’t lift already have back issues, and if they just start squatting at the gym they are far more likely to injure themselves than if they did isolated machine lifts. Even with moderate supervision, imperfect form and practice and lack of self-awareness on causing harm to oneself is happening in every gym every day, practically every minute.

[@nicolasguerrero2687]

@@ethidian3444 I disagree completely. There is data on injury rate at the gym; especially coming from sports like powerlifting, bodybuilding and weightlifting. I would argue that the millions of Americans with back issues that don't lift would have a much better quality of life if they started doing barbell movements. Actually, I have yet to hear of any case where training with a barbell with proper programming has worsened back pain or any other condition for anyone; most of the time it makes people feel better, feel less pain and their risk of injury dramatically drops (this happens at any age as well). Barbell squats do not put pressure on your spine and they do not cause you to develop back issues; what causes this is ego lifting, aka putting more weight on the bar than your muscle tissue can handle. I'm sorry you injured your back badly during highschool, when we are young we don't quite understand our own physical limits and without proper guidance or coaching this can very well lead to chronic injuries, but statistically you most likely developed that injury because you overloaded the bar, and with proper load management you would have been perfectly fine. Spreading misinformation like this is exactly what makes people scared of getting under the bar and potentially finding a sport that can actually improve their quality of life or give them a sense of purpose, among other benefits.

[@Kias1dad]

While I sympathize with your situation, the fact that tens of millions of Americans already have back issues - and don't squat - kind of eliminates squats as the cause of back issues. The number of people with back issues who don't squat, dwarfs the number who squat and do. All the data that is emerging supports strength training as a way to prevent injury and long-term decline.

[@ethidian3444]

@@Kias1dad I didn’t say squats were a leading cause of back issues, I am saying that since people tend to have back issues as a highly common problem, they shouldnt start squatting when they go to the gym. Squatting should not be a blanket recommendation to people without proper training, yet it is. People are therefor more likely to hurt themselves more when they go to the gym because of squatting with a heavy load being so normalized. Most people won’t have the skills to use good form or assess their own bodies potential for injury. And ignoring back issues for a moment, there are strong anecdotal trends of people’s knees getting worse as they lift and squatting being a reason for this. With squatting so vehemently believed in as a core exercise, many people seem to power through their knee pain and do it anyways. This is obviously another frequent problem with squatting. How frequent is unknown, because anecdotes are literally the only decent evidence to go off of.

[@davidzubkis7260]

@@ethidian3444 At no point in this video does he encourage anyone to squat without training. But to to be fair, your argument that no one should do anything without proper training is kind of silly. Millions of people in the US run recreationally, many of whom eventually get injured, and virtually all of them do so without any training on how to run. Should everyone stop running? And please, let's not claim that distance running is a "natural" activity, so its ok, as its no more "natural" than squatting. While we're at it, should people be discouraged from playing sports as well? Just anecdotally, I happen to have been playing basketball recreationally since I was kid and have seen countless injuries occur -- many of which are extremely serious. Should people be discouraged from playing this extremely dangrous sport without "proper training"? The answer to your question can be found in the data. Do people who squat recreationally have more or less back and knee injuries than the general population who do not squat? Recreational because of course people who compete at a high level have a higher injury rate than the general population--that's true of every single sport, from swimming to ping-pong.

[@jovanjovanovic7564]

Respect to you sir, i hearniated 2 discs, doctors told me to never squat or deadlift again. I now lift more than before the injury and my back feels great. Thank you for spreading truth and not fear!

[@Kias1dad]

Glad to hear you're listening to yourself and doing better. Can't count all the times I was warned as a kid about hurting my back.

[@zachnunya8749]

Man I’m 33 Tweaked my lower back deadlifting and it took a few months to get back to normal. I’m still going super light on squats and hip hinges for fear of jacking something up that interferes with me playing with my kids and such I guess my question is how did you rehabilitate it? And how long to build back confidence to safely get heavy again without re tweaking something?

[@bradenmwalker]

Exactly. Deadlifting healed my back. Having a weak back hurt my back, not any of the movements I was doing

[@bradenmwalker]

@@zachnunya8749Watch and follow the many videos on youtube on lower back stretches and balance rest with continuing training the exercises that hurt it like deadlifting and squats. Having a weak back is what causes injury, not a certain movement. It just takes balancing rest and easing back into and progressing in the movement💯💪🏽🙏🏽

[@yoeyyoey8937]

@@zachnunya8749look up the starr protocol

[@CPWS_The_Stingray]

I love how people always say "if you have a bad back/knees/shoulders whatever, then you shouldn't train those" but the "badness" comes from those parts being weak. So you really should be training those parts more. Unless you have genetic deformities, everything that aches or pains can be treated and fixed.

[@Kias1dad]

Exactly

[@yoeyyoey8937]

Exactly. Literally look at the people who _dont_ do those movements

[@withoutdaysofficial]

@@yoeyyoey8937 Right. I stopped lifting for about 5 years, and I progressively got worse and worse in terms of aches and pains during that time. I started lifting again this summer and feel better than ever. Of course, when you're new or out of practice like I was, it takes some patience, but in the long run its one of the best investments you can make

[@patrickgalligan7770]

Yup, just dont train them WRONG!

[@Daniel_WR_Hart]

My mom gets nervous whenever I try to lift some especially heavy furniture, but I'm the only person she knows that specifically practices lifting heavy things, and *coincidentally* I'm probably also the only person she knows over 30 that never herniated their disks. I popped a ligament in my hip though, but that was when I was younger when I thought I could pull 90-95% of my deadlift max with hardly any warmup, about 12 sets per week for 6 weeks straight

[@tomtom543]

Being that strong, lean and fit at your age is my biggest goal in the gym. Mad respect sir💪

[@suppositionstudios]

This is highly validating, loads of people tell me i'll have to give up certain lifts or i'll ruin my body, but they never mention how many people get major injuries doing random unrelated bs in their lives.

[@Kias1dad]

Absolutely. The overwhelming majority of people get hurt outside the gym, and strength training has been shown to reduce overall injury rates. I always remember I hear years ago, "Most people rust out. They don't wear out."

[@yoeyyoey8937]

Also they don’t mention how all the people getting injured and losing mobility and stuff are the ones not lifting

[@Ont785]

Awesome, I’m 59 pretty much the same strength category you are and it feels good to know that idiots arent holding us back..

[@hagenzwosta]

Yeah 4 sure. I am 54 and deadlifts and squats are actually what keeps my knees and back safe.

[@dickjohnson7845]

Absolutely

[@eemeli224]

Damn, thats a lot of weight! Absolute beast.

[@mementomori6155]

YOU SIR!!! Are an inspiration. Well done to you mate! I'm 30 next month and I've only been taking my weight lifting seriously for the past three years. Although I haven't my max in a while, I'm not sure if I can hit twice my weight like you. Seeing men like you motivate me. Thank you!

[@babyscreams6343]

This is easily the most encouraging, inspirational wl/fitness video I’ve seen in a long time. You rock.

[@invisible2872]

Dude, 62 years old and still smashing it out, good shit man. Those guys have no clue what they're talking about, and you're living proof of it.

[@syedzaheerhussainshahkazmi1241]

Much respect brother, just asking how much you lift on squats and deadlifts, not to judge (even light workout at 50+ is incredible) but for sake of education

[@apuuvah]

There ain"t no weight workout without squat (ass-to-grass) and deadlifts. They are the foundation, the basics of basics. Very fundamental.

[@yaleman4522]

I'm a little younger and a little heavier (59/205lbs) than you but our squat routines are very similar. I've had a bad back since my mid 20s but squatting never hurt, in fact, it has helped. Keep up the great lifting.

[@cerium58]

right on dude, you killed it! so good to see other older men still pushing themselves.

[@livefightwindie]

Couldn't agree more. It can be done. I will turn 60 in a week. Just did 510lbsx2 yesterday (close to 2x bodyweight). Followed up with myo rep set: 365lbsx8 no lockout, 40 sec rest then same weight for 5x2 with 30-40 sec between doubles- couldn't do the sixth set. I use a similar approach in preparing for heavy sets . The key for squatting when you're older the same as when you were young: proper preparation + awareness as you are training as emphasized in this video.

[@666BIGBLOCK]

👍IMPRESSIVE STRENGTH and very informative. 👍

[@Kias1dad]

Thank you! 👍

[@ericstefko4852]

that was seriously impressive

[@Kias1dad]

For me it's safer without them. The bumpers won't hurt the floor if dropped and my reactions are fast enough to bail if I have to.

[@sonofjay817]

I'm with you Doc...safety bars on back squats are for losers!

[@Hossak]

I am 54 and have been squatting to full depth (Clarence Kennedy is my idol) now for several years - my recent maximum is 190 kgs, I have been hovering around 160-180kg maximum now for about 2-3 years since I work fly-in fly-out so I am always weaker when I come back home. I work in a processing plant and so I do hundreds of flights of stairs a week and squats have strengthened me so much that those stairs feel like nothing and my knees have never given me an issue in my life to date. So my experience (like yours) has been that squats do not wreck knees - the complete opposite. However, as you have pointed out, you need to do squats properly - proper form, proper bracing and proper depth otherwise you will have issues. Fantastic video and congratulations on the impressive lifts. Awesome work!

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks. I'm impressed by Clarence as well. His depth is insane and he never breaks form.

[@norm9069]

Not only is the depth on que, but also squatting that weight without a belt is a testament to your core and stability. I did back today, top set on deadlifts was 485lbs as I work back up to my max before my hamstring injury and trap bar farmers carries, 562lbs. You're not moving heavy weights without having strong legs and core and pause squats are king in that department in my opinion.

[@factualredactual]

Highly respect this video I am a young weightlifter and I want to be able to squat like you at your age

[@Kias1dad]

Don't let anyone tell you you can't, and you will.

[@canton7180]

I laid off for 15 years I’m 55 now, my main problems are relearning the mechanics and relearning what was my stance, and most difficult is regaining mobility and opening up my hips, and scar tissue pain for a meniscus tear operation, I’m convinced the worse thing I did was stop squatting and become complacent and sediatry this allowed the scar tissue to harden and as it is known it rubs the nerve bundles and create horrible pain, I had to start with presses, and a lot of stretching

[@Kias1dad]

I agree. Time off is not how to deal with injuries. It's always, do what you can, maintain your mobility and strength as much as possible. Modify your activity as needed for sure, but don't stop. The research confirming that prescription continues to pile up. Good to hear that your making progress and getting back into it.

[@brentcecchini5843]

Nice work man. Im 59 soon, weighing 218, still squatting and pulling over 500.

[@yassenredwan8297]

Respectable weights & endurance. Moving from 5 sets back squats to 2 sets front squats with very high weights. IAM 22, and can only do 2 plates FS for 1, lifting heavy on this squats pattern is hard, alot of the time it's not your legs, but it's your core and front rack position that can't take rhe hit. I like how you call your second set of FS " nothing heroic" WOW. Almost 3 plates after brutal back squats work. You Are my hero sir, and what you did is heroic and an incredible feat of strength.

[@Kias1dad]

Thank you.

[@KanekiKen-lm1dl]

MACHINE. Respect brother, you’re an inspiration.

[@Neez2747]

You are a machine sir, I wish my dad wasn’t so stubborn and would do weights for his knees instead of just “walking it out” until his knees finally give out

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks. Tell your dad walking is actually one of the worst things for knees. It has very little range of motion, doesn't develop strength, and encourages repetitive stress injuries.

[@biochemicks2709]

I hope we're all mogging our kids like this when we're in our 60s

[@JimTheThe]

Great stuff

[@MitchellClements-kv3in]

looks good! One thing that saved my knees was squatting without shoes ( I later got completely flat shoes so I didn't have to take them off), as I leaned way to far forward with running shoes, and the front of my knees would get sore. No shoes kept me balanced, but I did have to adapt to my shin having to lean more forward which stretches the ankle a bit... but I can third world squat for a few minutes comfortably, which is something most people pushing 50 cannot do.

[@Kias1dad]

I've used solid weightlifting shoes for decades. Anything else crushes under my feet when I get to heavier weights.

[@A.P.Garland]

I love this video. Well done!

[@Kias1dad]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stangrzymala]

This is sick, Masterclass !!! I'm 42 and too worry about my lower back

[@Kias1dad]

There's nothing wrong with that. Especially with all the people saying you'll wreck your back. Stick to what you're comfortable with. Listen to your body. Increase the weight as your strength and confidence. There's no number you have to reach. Just try to get better.

[@kevinlaney9636]

Extremely impressive!!!

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks

[@KozysGhost]

Nice show of power. Maybe overlooked was your arm flexibility on the front squats. Lots of us struggle getting our arms parallel in that movement and I’m guilty (at 54). Your video is inspiring. Nice work.

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks. It did take me a while to develop enough arm flexibility to rack the bar for a front squat. BTW, inspiring is my favorite reaction. Hope your training gets a little boost.

[@cuchulain1647]

Thank you ❤

[@jedok1677]

Good job sir. I'll be hangin around here from now on.

[@TheBWCKing]

Dude you are a freaking legend

[@sethschuhmacher4399]

Great work and attitude! I hope to still be on the grind well into my later years as well. Life long strong... i feel that! Subscribed!

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks for the sub!

[@voodoosausage4137]

Admirable performance, sir!

[@naafas1]

Very good work and no belt...!!👍

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks. I'm planning on doing a video explaining why I don't lift with a belt. I think for everyone other than competitive strength athletes it's a better way to go.

[@markmotarker]

This is a load of crap (that squats are bad) I had back pain all my life until I started squatting. My pain only comes back if I stop going to the gym for some months.

[@DrRussell]

Instant sub Sir. Absolutely inspirational.

[@srijayr.9090]

Hauling iron at 62 which could even put 26 year olds to shame, bravo!

[@gordsnell7206]

A good instructional and motivating video. I just wish lifters would use collars on the bar. The one rep that torqued on you could just as easily been a tipping situation - and there go the plates, and your back! Otherwise a great video! Thanks.

[@Kias1dad]

I use collars when needed. Have my own in my bag. But these bars are so sticky, it's not required.

[@dannyboi472]

Better to have a strong bad back than a weak bad back-Mark Rippetoe

[@TheCalmbrain]

Inspiring man !!!!! !!!!

[@Sharleyn2015]

Same here nearly 54 still heavy squatting deadlifts leg press etc

[@tzzlite]

It depends on the individual. Some people can't squat at age 25 while some can still squat at 75 or older! If you've been squatting safely your entire life then there is no reason to stop. That applies to ANY exercise.

[@animalkub2510]

Still at it . Always been super 💪 💪 💪 💪

[@tjsoutpiel9649]

Great video as usual. I love your training philosophy.

[@NewJak14]

Daaamn! God damn.. well done sir. I love squats so much. Single most important movement. I barbell squat every single session in the gym

[@Kias1dad]

I'm 100% with you on squats being the most important movement.

[@NeillWylie]

Great session!

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks

[@withoutdaysofficial]

You're killing it! Keep it up!

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks

[@williamturner01]

Good job, young man!

[@thevaabs8520]

Dope vid yo

[@lifenegotiator2700]

Text book form . i never thought about going relative lighter and front squat after my sets . gonna do that now thanks

[@Abdo.R.Mohamed]

"u doing Squats as a Teenager , and your back and knees feels stronger than ever" Some DYEL Glass back : ye , u feel fine now .. see u in 20 years when u're in a wheel chair You in over 40 years : please hand me this 45lbs plate i am gonna max out today

[@Kias1dad]

Yeah, the number of people in high school telling I'd be broken down by forty. But guess who's hobbling now.

[@idrist5538]

Just turned 53. Gym day tomorrow. Deadlifts and squats on the menu guaranteed, otherwise I’m wasting my time.

[@Zijspoortje]

you are a beast! very strong!

[@ericcarson342]

Great lifts! Yeah, squats are a grind. That torquing at the end is a sign you're just about cooked. I would put spotter arms though, you never know. Do you take anything (TRT)? I am 49 and was thinking of TRT to maintain or even gain muscle but not sure yet, still getting info from men 40+ who lift.

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks. And yes, the torquing means I'm done. I don't use safety arms or spotters because since I was a kind and lifted outside, I learned to bail on a fail. This continued when I got into some Olympic lifting with bumper plates. And yes I have had 'tweaks' mid rep and got out from under that bar instantly. Not for everyone but works for me. As for TRT, I am not on it at this time. I am planning a video on it because I know it's a topic of interest. My simplest advice is TRT is for quality of life, not strength or physique.

[@ericcarson342]

@ As long as you know how to bail. Lots of people seem to be hesitant when the squat is not there and collapse under the weight. It’s not like a bench press where you’re trapped. I’ll look out for that TRT video. I’m curious about it. Thanks.

[@sirjenkins7442]

Very impressive! I'm moving similar weights but I'm half your age!

[@Kias1dad]

Means you got a lot of good years ahead of you.

[@deavman]

I have been ruining my knees and back twice a week, for decades. I am 65.

[@gregsmith7821]

Did my first deadlift at 55! Still going but not super heavy. Just enough to push my body.

[@Kias1dad]

That's great!

[@markusseppala6547]

It's all good but you have a good power rack there and you're squatting outside of it, consider the safety bars stay safe

[@Daniel_WR_Hart]

I think those articles are written for the lowest common denominator, i.e. idiots that are careless and get injured lifting moderate loads, then end up visiting their doctors and making our hobby look bad

[@Kias1dad]

Agreed. But I think a lot of it is also to provide the LCD with an excuse to do nothing.

[@dominickloka9758]

You took that double-bodyweight squat after the grueling 360 x 6? Kudos for doing it in spite of the fatigue! You're probably a 400+ squatter already.

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I am working that way.

[@NikkiNexo777]

I'm 55 and still squat heavy. My knees, hips, and back feel great. No pain. Screw the naysayers!

[@Kias1dad]

Absolutely.

[@Loyaltyinthisbusiness]

Thank you algorithm

[@Jane_Friday]

I have arthritis since age 16. I'm 45 now and squat for 3 decades. I'm nit a strong squater, but I'm certainky stronger and more functional than 90 % of women in my age group, despite severe arthritis.

[@Kias1dad]

That's awesome. You're doing exactly what you should. Research is solidly confirming what a lot of us have known for years. That activity, as much as your able, is a far better treatment than rest.

[@wvjon75]

Impressive as hell!

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks.

[@Athleticover40]

Nice work mate 💪

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks ✌

[@x-techgaming]

Fantastic

[@declan0001]

jesus man i hope to be this strong at 60 good shit

[@Patriot_316]

3:12 Close your eyes, you'll hear a Semi truck!

[@lezc3733]

Glad to see you’re not using collars, many people don’t realise how important that can be if you hit failure and can’t make the rack.

[@Kias1dad]

I would use collars if the plates were at all easy to get on and off, but these are all pretty sticky and I would bail long before the bar tipped enough for them to slide. If I hit failure, I dump the bar. That's why I always use bumpers.

[@jbirdy9806]

That's beast

[@march.2802]

this is fucking strong man!

[@B-a_s-H]

Impressive for sure, but without safeties and so close to the wall (making it a bit difficult to dump the bar) makes it a bit of an irresponsible lift imho. But hey... keep on rocking brother!

[@Kias1dad]

I understand your concern, but I am actually safer than in a rack or relying on a spotter. The bar falls straight and the wall is a good three feet away. My reflexes are fast, I've got decades of experience, and the instant there's a problem I can bail. And sometimes do.

[@Mr-mopar]

Im squatting at fifty..brutal…lol…I will say the Doms are insane and will scare most people off. But if you stick with it and make slow gains it builds major muscle mass.

[@SgtCrypto]

Those so called experts, are just afraid of hard work.

[@tzzlite]

How young were you when you started squatting?

[@tormentoxx]

Love this. Subscribed.

[@Kias1dad]

Thanks

[@yoeyyoey8937]

V nice good grind

[@xyzop7977]

Fuck impressive, man you are really an inspiration i am 21 right now have been training for the past 1 year and my max is only 115 kg

[@Kias1dad]

You'll get there. At 21 you've got plenty of years to go.

[@mcfarlac1]

That’s impressive. I wouldn’t have guessed that you could have lifted those weights. I recommend that you do the squats inside the cage and with safety bars, that is the only thing I would change.

[@Kias1dad]

I'm going to do a video on why I squat outside the cage and what's safest, cage, spotters, or free squats. Honestly, I've seen more people get into trouble in a cage or with a spotter than free squatting. But that may be due to the fact that everyone I've seen free squat has an Oly lifting background.

[@LiberatedMind1]

@@Kias1dad Squat rack with rails is very safe.

[@syedzaheerhussainshahkazmi1241]

Very inspirational brother

[@Kias1dad]

My favorite reaction.

[@PhsychoSomatic]

How long have you been lifting sir? Its very very impressive. Im hoping to lift into my 80s

[@Kias1dad]

I started at 12, so about 51 years now.

[@PhsychoSomatic]

@Kias1dad didnt stunt your growrh im guessing am i right? What did your peak squat lifts look like? Or are you peaking now??

[@LiberatedMind1]

Front Squats + RDLS for killer lower body!

[@Kias1dad]

Both are great exercise.

[@videoguy640]

👏🏿👏🏿 But why no safeties?

[@Kias1dad]

I started out squatting in my back yard with squat stands. If I missed, I dropped it on the ground. I've done a lot of Oly lifting, and used squat stands with bumper plates and dropped misses on the platform. I wouldn't recommend it. It's an individual thing. But it is actually more comfortable and safer for me.

[@videoguy640]

@@Kias1dad fair, congrats again man, I hope to be that strong at your age

[@x-Musashi-x]

There’s old people over 80 who still lift the heavy iron and are functionally much healthier then those who dont

[@Kias1dad]

Exactly

[@blazedones]

I will say, you taking 4 days per squat session is important. Rest, I think not enough of us do this.

[@ChrisCoul]

Its so weird to have a white blanket policy against certain lifts due to age. You could get an injury from lifting at any age due to any number of factors. That's not a reason to not do a lift. It might be a reason to alternate those lifts for some variations that don't aggravate that injury. Keep grinding!

[@Kias1dad]

Yeah, that blanket policy is really silly. And yeah, I will.

[@zackosborn1731]

The natty Tom Platz

[@liamduffy5276]

okay but I have a herniated disk so for now maybe I shouldn't be doing those

[@Kias1dad]

Sorry to hear that. But staying active is the best medicine for injuries and chronic conditions. So do what you can.

[@ReelGuyTv]

And I struggle with 250 in my 40s. lol

[@Kias1dad]

But you're still in the gym and that's what counts.

[@cranebeg]

Legend!

[@Shepskeez]

When I grow up, I want to be you

[@bigk2080]

Front squats after all that 🏋‍♂️

[@jimbobhaha]

Impressive.

[@tarnished2604]

You’re a beast

[@runix2189]

Amazing. Let's see all these kids on steroids squat double weight at 60+ let alone live that long.