Squatting is a foundational movement pattern humans learn at a very young age.

The muscles used in a squat help you power through your daily tasks.

Adding them to your workout could decrease your risk of injury and keep you moving easily throughout the day.

Two women doing squats at home

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The health benefits of squats include improving strength and flexibility and burning calories.

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1.

Reduces the Risk of Injury

Squats are compound exercises, meaning they target multiple joints simultaneously.

Wall squat exercise performed by a woman

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Strengthens Core

Squats help strengthen your core, which stabilizes your trunk and spine.

Burns Calories

As a compound exercise, squats activate multiple muscles simultaneously.

What Are the Disadvantages?

Woman doing a box squat in her living room

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When done incorrectly, squats can lead to back and knee injuries.

What Muscles Do Squats Work?

Muscles you work during a squat include:

What Benefits Can You Get From Squat Variations?

Man doing a jump squat in a park

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This modification helps you shift your weight backward and reduces pressure on your lower back and ankles.

Box squats are helpful for people who want to learn the proper technique for back squats used in powerlifting.

Practice this exercise without added resistance until you might perform it correctly and safely.

Woman doing a goblet squat exercise

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Start with body-weight squats until you master proper form.

American Council on Exercise.5 benefits of compound exercises.

American Council on Exercise.Stability ball wall squats.

Woman doing lateral squats in a park

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American Council on Exercise.Goblet squats.

Sato K, Liebenson C.The lateral squat.J Bodyw Mov Ther.

2013;17(4):560-562. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.09.005

American Council on Exercise.Pistol squat workout.

Man doing a pistol squat exercise

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Amercian Council on Exercise.Back squats.

Woman doing a back squat at the gym

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Man doing overhead squat exercise at the gym

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