The Squat Prescription with Dr. Jonathon Sullivan

Jonathon Sullivan, MD, PhD, SSC discusses why and how the squat meets the requirements of a barbell prescription for the aging adult.
WRITTEN AND PRODUCED
by Jonathon Sullivan
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER:
Damian Lang
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT:
Frank Psujek
RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE:
Videos:
• Learning to Squat | Th...
• Video
• The Squat | Without th...
• The Squat | Under the ...
• The Squat | A Word on ...
• The Squat | Rip Coachi...
BOOKS:
Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe
The Barbell Prescription by Jonathon Sullivan and Andy Baker
Both available on Amazon or at startingstrength.com
FOLLOW GREYSTEEL ON FACEBOOK:
/ greysteelstrength
GREYSTEEL WEBSITE AND BLOG:
www.greysteel.org
OUR BOOK:
www.thebarbellprescription.com
Content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Consult your physician for questions about your health, diet and exercise.
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[@zorkan111]

I'm glad that more and more people are investing their time talking about benefits of simple weightlifting for overall quality of life. Too many people are completely ignorant about weighs (even medical professionals), and too many think lifting is "just for bodybuilders". It's about time we start changing that.

[@ivansandvall477]

I’m watching this at age 14. It is still great!

[@harlemdeni]

This has such a 90s vibe. I love it.

[@PassportG]

What do you mean 90's vibe?

[@DaBrute]

It feels like an old educational video

[@ironwill5884]

This is such an underappreciated segment of the population that would find extreme benefit from barbell training. I imagine Dr. Sullivan has found great reward in working with these 'seasoned' athletes. Great job!

[@jonathonsullivan2609]

Yes. I have indeed. But I'm going to have to stop. Apparently i don't look the part.

[@ironwill5884]

Jonathon Sullivan Isn’t one of the great pleasures of living a long life not giving a damn what others think? That’s rhetorical. Of course it is! #greysteel😂💪🏼

[@GreySteel]

But I won't live a long life. I have "visible fat."

[@ironwill5884]

GreySteel here on the interwebs, it’s not enough to have a strong body, one must have thick skin as well. Sorry you have to deal with internet twits. In the meantime, thanks for the great content on your channel!😄 #trollssuck

[@sullydawg]

Not butthurt, actually. But I have no patience with Net Nabobs telling the Masters population that they can't be healthy without visible abs or a 12% BF. Same old bullshit. We'll continue to call it out.

[@thepenitentcop1033]

Sharing this with a friend recently recovering from 3 weeks of hospitalization and losing about 40 lbs of body weight and muscle!!

[@Hossak]

I agree 100% with this video. One of the thing that I have found is that you are always perfecting your squat, even when you feel that you have got it right, there is always more to learn. One of the things that I have found that is missed and has made a massive difference for me is what I call the foot/push/twist. I didn't quite get the "shove your knees out" thing until I started to try to push the ground apart with my feet with a slight rotation. Once that was done, suddenly the stretch reflex is there, you can tell the correct depth and any butt wink just disappears. Whether it is glute activation, hip engagement or whatever, that is what has worked for me. Before that I felt that my squats were like falling into a hole looking for that stretch bounce, once I mastered that "knees out / foot push/twist" it all came together. Good luck everyone!

[@TheBlooRayChannel]

THIS

[@ninie120]

Just tried this today. I owe you.

[@timlebsack]

Thank You, Dr. Sullivan. I really appreciate the work you've done on this subject.

[@KimTownsel]

Still working on my squat. 😎💪🏅 #ILoveDeadlifting

[@sullydawg]

Aren't we all?

[@patwams48]

Truly amazing how use of a barbell can be medicine.

[@fuckingpippaman]

Squat is intense, as you will see doing it. Oh man, everytime i squat i just wanna go home and cry, i question my motivation to train LOL

[@Kennych100]

Thank you, Doctor. You have already changed my life style.

[@sillybilly9428]

"People have been squatting since..... before they were human." 😂

[@sullydawg]

i29.tinypic.com/33fb3h4.jpg

[@JoelP1961]

My squat isn’t perfect but it’s a lot better than it’s ever been thanks to these videos.

[@gradykemper8442]

He is saying "sick aging phenotype"

[@alphastrength3402]

Very good, right before leg day

[@ExecutionSommaire]

How about atlas stones? I think it is the true king of exercises, because squats only really take care of the lower body.

[@nantschev]

That’s my brother at 7:15 😊

[@GreySteel]

He is a lot of fun to work with.

[@HAL-dm1eh]

They should make toilets a bit lower. Just sayin....

[@JuergenNoll]

Just coming back from China. Every single one is capable of full range ATG squats. They are even resting in that position during work breaks. Reason? Maybe the Asian toilet design.

[@lookie236]

There are lower toilets. They're called Squat Toilets as a matter of fact.

[@lorini11]

Turkish toilets always,,, just like the army has or had

[@LiveRaidei]

Wouldn't the best exercise for that criteria be more like a hex bar deadlift or something?

[@jonathonsullivan2609]

No.

[@LiveRaidei]

@@jonathonsullivan2609 Cool. Thanks.

[@itsahoax]

thanks Sully

[@jonathonsullivan2609]

S'alright.

[@philipyazbeck2569]

"The best approach...find a coach." Sully The poet.

[@jonathonsullivan2609]

But I don't know it. My feet don't show it. Even tho they're long fellows.

[@skadinkus419]

Good video! (Better than the logging one ;-) )

[@jetjames420]

I think of the master cue during the eccentric, then my brain screams HIIP DRAAHVE

[@DonedHiga]

🙏🏻thank you👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@GreySteel]

Welcome.

[@dereksmallsuk]

I've been trying highbar for quite a while now.... I seem to have acquired pain between my shoulder blades.... Tightness on my upper spine. I'm not currently flexible enough for low bar it seems. Problem..

[@GreySteel]

There are solutions. Search the board at startingstrength.com and the ss facebook page. And stand by at GS channel.

[@jamie49868]

Start with your body weight. Concentrate on from. Add small amounts using dumb bells or kettle bells. Do not try heavy lifts or think doing a thousand in a work out will get you there when you begin. Get used to doing them. Remember, you are doing this for you, not to compete with the guy next to you.

[@imhungry4444]

Sullivan looks like a werewolf.

[@timlebsack]

and a BadAss Werewolf He is !!

[@GreySteel]

Only when it's my time of the month.

[@lepeejon2955]

His hair was perfect.

[@jonathonsullivan2609]

Little old lady got mutilated late last night.

[@shaunabourassa2862]

@@GreySteel 😂

[@1111comment]

limited to front squats after shoulder injury. any suggestions to get me back to low bar?

[@GreySteel]

Have you tried the safety squat bar? We have a video coming on that soon.

[@1111comment]

GreySteel Wish I had that option. Saw some videos of some other squat handles that don’t seem to be available anymore

[@alanjk5092]

6:20

[@neilj8224]

Does this guy to kids' parties? My son has been bad and is due a scare.

[@craigpawlisch8628]

I get that becoming stronger by squatting will improve balance with respect to the conduct of ordinary life. But, given that you are dealing with an older population, you must encounter some people whose balance is so compromised that even after training, their ability to maintain balance with a heavy bar on the shoulders becomes the thing that limits weight progression. Do you make any programming adjustments for that situation? Or do you just limit weight progression to what they are able to safely handle?

[@jonathonsullivan2609]

We don't run into this as often as you'd think. Some older lifters without much physical fitness experience have poor proprioception at the bottom and need a "depth reporter" like a box or bungee cord, but this isn't very common. Limiting weight is rarely the answer in training.

[@anythinggoes4285]

SAFE only if you do it RIGHT !!!

[@sullydawg]

Like everything else.

[@jcarty123]

He says "xxxx phenotype" - what is the xxxx? It sounds like he's saying "sick asian", but that would make no sense.

[@bujarmurati3004]

sick aging

[@jcarty123]

thank you! I can hear that, now. He ran the words together (like 'si-caging'; no stop before the 'a').

[@delciemcwhoopie]

pecs like Khan Noonan Singh

[@GreySteel]

Attitude, too.

[@pigpen8443]

Mark Rippetoe and Jason Blaha are equally delusional.

[@Re3iRtH]

This guy doesn't look in shape. Would you take advice from someone like this?

[@bujarmurati3004]

Show me a hundred guys his age. How many of them will be in better shape?

[@nickoglock]

he's an MD and PhD, and he's teaching people not to be too weak for life in general. he's not teaching someone to be a bodybuilder

[@GreySteel]

"No Visible Abs" = "Not In Shape" So, let's all take advice from the anonymous internet troll instead.

[@jcarty123]

Hey troll - are you kidding? He looks strong. More fat than a nineteen year old, that is true. But, within reason, "strong" is better than "lean".

[@nickoglock]

I can't believe the nonsense here. someone with a real education is showing something free. he's not some gym brother promoting people to lift all they can and hurt themselves. we should all thank the man for taking the time to make the video