Breathing
Inhale before or during the controlled descent, then exhale as you stand. Maintain trunk support without holding your breath for the whole repetition.
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The Barbell Squat with Bands primarily works the quadriceps, with the adductors, calves, glutes, hamstrings and lower back supporting the movement. It is a powerlifting movement performed with barbell.

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Movement instructions
Set up the bands on the sleeves, secured to either band pegs, the rack, or dumbbells so that there is appropriate tension.
Begin by stepping under the bar and placing it across the back of the shoulders. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and rotate your elbows forward, attempting to bend the bar across your shoulders. Remove the bar from the rack, creating a tight arch in your lower back, and step back into position. Place your feet wide for more emphasis on the back, glutes, adductors, and hamstrings. Keep your head facing forward.
With your back, shoulders, and core tight, push your knees and butt out and you begin your descent. Sit back with your hips as much as possible. Ideally, your shins should be perpendicular to the ground. Lower bar position necessitates a greater torso lean to keep the bar over the heels. Continue until you break parallel, which is defined as the crease of the hip being in line with the top of the knee.
Keeping the weight on your heels and pushing your feet and knees out, drive upward as you lead the movement with your head. Continue upward, maintaining tightness head to toe, until you have returned to the starting position.
Technique guidance
Inhale before or during the controlled descent, then exhale as you stand. Maintain trunk support without holding your breath for the whole repetition.
General guidance based on the exercise and equipment. It is not personal coaching or medical advice.
Your progress
Keep the same barbell setup, range of motion and recording method when comparing Barbell Squat with Bands sessions.
Weight, repetitions and completed sets.
Example: 3 sets of 8 reps at 30 kg. Next time, record the actual result, even if it is the same.
Look for more repetitions at the same weight, or a heavier weight for comparable repetitions. Total weight lifted also changes when you add sets, so it is not a strength score.
Read the tracking guideThe examples show how to keep a record. They are not workout targets or a personalised training plan.
See how Jijibisha tracks your progressMuscles
Muscle guide
Quadriceps is the primary muscle group. The lighter highlights show the supporting muscles involved in the movement.
Swap it
Different equipment, same muscle
These movements also target the quadriceps using something else.
Related
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