This debate has been going on for some time.  Or maybe it's not anymore and I'm just old.

Here's my take on the debate, with what I was exposed to....

(Note: this is just perception with  a little humor. Certainly many coaches around the country had different views)

Many moons ago, strength coaches worked hard to change the things we were seeing in popular fitness magazines and what bodybuilders were touting. You know, the magazines that didn't really portray everything like they should. A young gal doing squats with her knees buckling in and her heels nearly coming off the ground.

We cringed.

When you have athletes that are 6'7" with severe patella pain, you can't have them looking like those fitness models! So you find exercises and positions that allow them to get stronger without causing more pain.

Powerlifters aided in this debate that the posterior chain should be the focus of a big squat, healthy knees and improved performance.

So strength coaches trained their athletes to box squat, do "pre-hab" exercises like TKE's and hammer the posterior chain with accessories... and for the love... do not let the knee go over the toe!

There were many other strength coaches out there that were front squatting, lunging and jumping and even *GASP* performing deep power cleans.  Shame on you for further injuring your athletes with those terrible exercises!

Ok, ok, let's get to the point.... yes, many athletes have weak posterior chains and all will benefit from bringing up those muscle groups.  Athletes also need quads to balance things out, and when trained properly, can also avoid knee pain.

POINT BEING.... EVERYTHING IN CONTEXT!!

There are bad exercises if they are performed poorly or the person has an injury.

So, *should* the knee travel forward in squats and lunges?

IT DEPENDS!

For me, as seen in the videos, I've been working on not only quad development, but my body's ability to recruit my quads during a squat.  Even on a narrow stance squat with Oly shoes, you can see the struggle.

 

When my program from Anne Sheehan prescribed Bulgarian split squats, I wanted to keep focusing on quad.  So I moved my foot close to bench, leaned forward a little and tried to keep more pressure on my toes.

Yes, on my toes... contrary to what years and years of coaching people to not be on their toes.  BUT, my knees are healthy, I only perform these exercises this way when needed, and the rest of my life has relatively no stress on my knees.

My 5'3" frame is a far cry from a 7 foot tall college basketball player, but there's something to learn in all scenarios.  Know the big picture. Examine who you're working with and always have an open mind.