Diamond bar squats

[willie mosconi]

I just did them for the first time in about 10 years the other day. I chose to do them again mainly because I've been having some lower back issues, but I may continue doing them once fully recovered because they seem pretty effective. Anybody else do them? What do you think of them? (if you guys aren't familiar- instead of having the weight on your back, you hold the bar with your hands and then do squats)

[DroppingPlates]

I've never tried them. I think front squats are more effective in your case because your quads are much stronger than the weight you can hold with your arms. Both the diamant and front version put less stress on your lower back, but if you have serious problems it could be better to avoid all squat movements.

[TommyBoy]

Any time I am in a gym that has a diamond bar I make absolutely sure I do these. They are fantastic.

Bar-behind back squats, front-squats, then diamond-bar squats in that order = fried legs.

[gib]

I am am Olympic lifter. We live and breath front squats (they are a vital part of the "clean" when dong a clean and jerk. For a bodybuilder,  they take some getting used to, and also require more flexibility in the arms. Technique when holding the bar is important. They are also great for your lower back and spinal erectors provided you do them with good form.

[HTexan]

I just did them for the first time in about 10 years the other day. I chose to do them again mainly because I've been having some lower back issues, but I may continue doing them once fully recovered because they seem pretty effective. Anybody else do them? What do you think of them? (if you guys aren't familiar- instead of having the weight on your back, you hold the bar with your hands and then do squats)

how did you fup your back?

[Swedish Viking]

daimond bar...is that a trap bar?  Never heard of a diamond bar.

[HTexan]

daimond bar...is that a trap bar?  Never heard of a diamond bar.

Yo yo yo daddy-o all the hip kids are calling them diamond bars now a days.

[willie mosconi]

how did you fup your back?

It is kind of a long story. About five years ago, I injured my back pretty severely doing bent over rows. It took me about a month to recover enough from that to train like I used to, but my lower back has never really been the same ever since. I injure it about three times a year ever since then.

This most recent time occurred due to several things- I moved apartments and was hence moving some very heavy boxes, etc. Then, I tweaked it further picking up heavy dumbbells for incline presses. The following day it got far worse when I was shooting pool. It has been about three weeks since then. I'm not really in pain any more, but it still feels vulnerable.