Thoracolumbar and Lumbopelvic Spinal Alignment During the Barbell Back Squat: A Comparison Between Men and Women.
Victor Bengtsson, Lars Berglund, Fredrik Öhberg and 1 others
PMID 37547841WHAT IT FOUND
During the squat, experienced lifters did not keep their lower back in the same position as standing.
It moved, especially in the front-to-back curve. Men flattened their lower back curve at the start, women did not. Injury risk was not tested.
Key findings
01During the squat, both upper and lower lumbar alignment changed from standing in all three planes, with significant front-to-back changes.
02Men and women did not differ in upper lumbar alignment during the squat.
03In the lower lumbar spine, men reduced their lordosis at the start position compared with standing, while women did not.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 23 experienced lifters were measured, so the results may not apply to beginners, recreational lifters, or people with pain. The study measured spinal alignment only; it did not follow injuries or test whether a technique change alters injury risk. Load was based on self-estimated one-repetition maximum, and squat depth was only instructed to a minimum standard, so some variation may have affected the angles. Sensors were attached to the skin, so muscle and soft tissue movement may not exactly match the bones of the spine. A few participants reported current injuries, which could have influenced their movement, but too few were available to analyse separately.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest and no funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that rounding the lower back during a barbell squat causes back injury. The study measured spinal alignment in 23 experienced lifters and did not test injury outcomes or technique changes.