Why use a slant board to squat? - Joe Matthews
- REALFITT
- Oct 1
- 1 min read
Updated: Oct 2
Why use a slant board to squat?
If your hip or ankle biomechanics or mobility make squatting challenging, elevating the heels increases the shin-to-foot angle. This allows your tibia to remain more vertical than it normally would in that position, which generally enables a deeper squat.
A slant, or decline board is a fantastic tool for assisting someone to execute the squat pattern and keep a more upright torso whilst doing so. You can do them weighted or unweighted, generally with dumbbells or kettlebells in a goblet or side by side position. See coach Griffin’s Youtube video demonstration below for a good visual of slant board squats.
The slant board will also do wonders for targeting your quadriceps muscles, in particular your VMO (vastus medialis oblique) as well as loading your patella tendons in a positive way. With stronger quads and in turn patella tendons, this will improve knee strength and stability. You can also use the slant board for stretching out tight calves which may contribute to reduced range of motion when squatting.
The main purpose of the slant board is to strengthen your leg and hip muscles, as well as your patellar tendons, while allowing you to squat deeper than you normally would.
Chat to your coach to learn some more about when and where to use them into your program.
See you in the gym!
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