Asian Squat: Bad for Knees?

Summary by Krater

An Upright Health instructor debunks the medical myth that deep, resting squat positions like Asian or primal squats are dangerous for knees, hips, and backs, explaining that lack of modern mobility and strength training is the real issue.

From the video

Answers: Are deep Asian or resting squats bad for your knees and back?

• Deep squat form and myths
• Resting squat mobility
• Knee health in squatting
• Hip and back flexibility
• Cultural squatting habits

Exercises

• deep squat · bodyweight

What it concludes

• Deep resting squats are not inherently bad or dangerous for healthy knees, hips, or backs.
• The belief that knees should not go past toes in a squat is a physical therapy myth.
• Athletes in sports requiring explosive movements safely put their knees over their toes because they train their joints for it.
• Inability to comfortably do a deep squat is caused by lack of flexibility, strength, and mobility due to sedentary Western habits rather than anatomical danger.
• People worldwide outside of industrialized Western societies use the deep squat position safely throughout their entire lives.
• You can safely build the ability to do a deep squat by practicing it regularly with gradual progression.