Why am I not able to do squats?

Author: Billy Waelchi  |  Last update: Monday, July 7, 2025

Previous Injury And Pain This is one of the most obvious reasons why you may not be able to perform a perfect squat. An existing injury or discomfort in the knees, hips, or lower back can make squatting painful or challenging.

Why do I struggle to squat?

There are a few reasons why people struggle to squat properly - Poor ankle mobility, poor hip mobility, poor spinal mobility and poor motor skills. In this article we'll cover how to fix these issues and learn to squat properly.

Why is it difficult for me to do squats?

​If you can't squat down- Your muscles are stiff

In case you are finding it difficult to go down, then it might be because your hips muscles are not that flexible. It can be due to multiple reasons like lack of physical activity or sitting all day long on a chair.

Is it normal not to be able to squat?

The most common reason for not wanting to squat is fear of injury, and this in turn usually stems from pain or discomfort during the movement that may be caused by poor technique. And you know what that means: time to reach out about our assessment sessions.

Why am I so weak at squats?

You're Working Out With Poor Squat Techniques

Often, the issue is related to improper techniques, such as incorrect depth, alignment, or grip strength, causing inefficient force transfer. Muscle imbalance, where one muscle group overpowers the other, also leads to a feeling of weakness.

How LOW Should You Squat (IT MATTERS!)

Why am I terrible at squats?

A weak squat can be caused by muscular imbalances, mobility challenges, poor nutrition and recovery, overtraining, and incorrect form.

What to do if you struggle with squats?

How to improve your squat form
  1. Start from a strong squatting position. ...
  2. Squat with assistance to start. ...
  3. Engage your core. ...
  4. Keep your chest tall. ...
  5. Drive your knees out. ...
  6. Take your squats up a notch. ...
  7. Improve your ankle mobility. ...
  8. Improve hip mobility for better squatting.

What's a good weight to squat?

A great benchmark in terms of the body weight ratio for squatting for men is around 1.5 to 2 times their own body weight. For females, the target range is anywhere between one and 1.5 times the body weight. Again, fitness goals, age, experience level, and more can all influence this.

How to regain ability to squat?

The ability to squat correctly without pain can be improved by building quadriceps, buttocks and core muscles. To do so, Harrell recommends the wall squat exercise. Start with 10 wall squats three times per week, says Harrell.

How to do a squat for beginners?

Nicole Campbell: To do a squat, stand with your feet slightly greater than shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing ahead. Slowly descend, bending through the hips, knees and ankles. Stop when your knees reach a 90-degree angle. Then return to the starting position.

Why can't some people squat?

Basic Anatomy – Hip Socket

Humans, however, are not all the same and the way the femur and hip socket is shaped can vary from person to person, which will make the way they squat different.

Why are squats not working?

Experts say bad form is probably the top reason you're not seeing results. "The squat is one of the best exercises and it has so many benefits... but it has to be done correctly," says Chelsea Axe, D.C., C.S.C.S., a chiropractor and fitness expert for Ancient Nutrition.

Why do we lose the ability to squat?

As we age, our muscles may lose elasticity, and joints can become stiffer. Injuries to the lower back, hips, knees, or ankles can lead to compensatory movement patterns, reducing squat depth and form.

How many squats should I do a day?

Whether or not 20 squats are enough for a day depends on your fitness level and goals. For beginners, doing 20 squats a day can be a great way to start building strength and endurance. However, if you are looking to see more significant results, you will need to gradually increase the number of squats you do over time.

Is it normal to struggle with squats?

This is a common issue when squatting, and it often occurs because of weak glute muscles. To correct this issue, focus on pushing your knees out during the squat, engaging your glutes, and making sure your feet are properly positioned.

Why is squatting so difficult?

Not only does it use around 200 muscles to perform a squat (that's around a third of all the muscles in your body), it also requires triple extension: that means you're bending through three joints – your hips, knees and ankles – at once.

How much should a beginner be able to squat?

For beginners, a good squat goal weight is typically around 0.75 to 1 times body weight.

How many times a week should I squat?

While training frequency will depend on the intensity of your workouts and recovery strategies, generally speaking one to three days a week of squatting will work for most people, add Ellis.

Why am I unable to squat?

Having weak muscles or insufficient strength in quadriceps, glutes, or core can also lead to instability and difficulty in performing squats correctly. This is because when these muscle groups lack strength, they are less able to support your body weight and control movement.

Can some people not squat?

Squatting isn't for everybody, by any definition. Some folks will have hip limitations which prevent them from squatting very deep. A shallow hip joint can quite literally make it impossible for a person to get into a deep squat - their bones just don't work that way.

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