Overhead Squat

Overview

An overhead squat is an advanced compound exercise that involves performing a squat while holding one’s arms (or a weight) directly overhead. It builds upon the fundamental bodyweight squat by significantly increasing the demand on stability, mobility, and core strength. The exercise requires excellent flexibility in the ankles, hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders, as the lifter must maintain an upright torso and the weight directly over the midfoot throughout the entire movement. Muscles worked include the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes in the lower body, along with substantial engagement of the core (abdominals, obliques, spinal erectors), deltoids, and triceps to stabilize the overhead load. Due to the elevated center of gravity, the overhead squat is a highly challenging exercise that not only strengthens the muscles but also significantly improves balance, coordination, and functional mobility. It is often used as a diagnostic tool to assess movement limitations and as an accessory exercise for Olympic lifts like the snatch.

Dimensions

Required inputs for processing:

None

Events

Metric	Data Type	Description	Column Name
Initiation	Int	the start of the squat	`squat_initiation_frame`
Bottom1	Int	the first instance of maximum squat depth
Bottom	Int	the instant of maximum squat depth	`squat_bottom_frame`
Ascent Start	Int	the start of upward movement
End	Int	the end of the movement	`squat_end_frame`

Discrete Metrics

Metric	Data Type	Units	Description	Column Name
Right Valgus Bottom	Float	meters	Right knee valgus at bottom position	`right_knee_valgus_at_bottom`
Left Valgus Bottom	Float	meters	Left knee valgus at bottom position	`left_knee_valgus_at_bottom`
Right Valgus Eccentric Full	Float	meters	Maximum right knee valgus during eccentric phase	`right_valgus_distance_eccentric`
Left Valgus Eccentric Full	Float	meters	Maximum left knee valgus during eccentric phase	`left_valgus_distance_eccentric`
Right Valgus Concentric Full	Float	meters	Maximum right knee valgus during concentric phase	`right_valgus_distance_concentric`
Left Valgus Concentric Full	Float	meters	Maximum left knee valgus during concentric phase	`left_valgus_distance_concentric`
Eccentric Hip-Knee Dominance	Float	ratio	Hip-knee dominance during eccentric phase (0=hip dominant, 1=knee dominant)	`eccentric_hip_knee_dominance`
Concentric Hip-Knee Dominance	Float	ratio	Hip-knee dominance during concentric phase (0=hip dominant, 1=knee dominant)	`concentric_hip_knee_dominance`
Depth	Float	meters	Vertical displacement of pelvis from start to bottom	`squat_depth`
Wrist Past Feet	Int	N/A	Whether wrists move beyond feet (1) or not (0)	`wrist_past_feet`
Bottom Time	Float	seconds	Time spent at bottom position	`time_while_at_bottom`
Continuous	Int	N/A	Whether squat is continuous (1) or has pause (0)	`continuous_motion`
Eccentric Velocity	Float	m/s	Max velocity during eccentric phase	`max_eccentric_velocity`
Concentric Velocity	Float	m/s	Max velocity during concentric phase	`max_concentric_velocity`
Vertical Hip Lower Than Vertical Knee	Int	N/A	Whether hips go below knees (1) or not (0)	`hip_below_knee`
Vertical Hip Lower Than Vertical Knee Distance	Float	meters	Distance between hip and knee at bottom	`hip_below_knee_distance`
Trunk Tibia Parallel	Int	N/A	Whether trunk and tibia are parallel (1) or not (0)	`trunk_tibia_parallel`
Trunk Tibia Angle	Float	degrees	Angle between trunk and tibia	`trunk_tibia_angle`
Hips Feet Stationary	Int	N/A	Whether hips and feet remain stationary (1) or not (0)	`hips_feet_stationary`
Knees Track	Int	N/A	Whether knees track properly (1) or not (0)	`knees_track`
Left Peak Hip Flexion	Float	degrees	Maximum left hip flexion angle	`peak_left_hip_flexion_angle`
Right Peak Hip Flexion	Float	degrees	Maximum right hip flexion angle	`peak_right_hip_flexion_angle`
Left Peak Knee Flexion	Float	degrees	Maximum left knee flexion angle	`peak_left_knee_flexion_angle`
Right Peak Knee Flexion	Float	degrees	Maximum right knee flexion angle	`peak_right_knee_flexion_angle`
Left Peak Ankle Flexion	Float	degrees	Maximum left ankle flexion angle	`peak_left_ankle_flexion_angle`
Right Peak Ankle Flexion	Float	degrees	Maximum right ankle flexion angle	`peak_right_ankle_flexion_angle`

Notes

Kinematic data typically captured at 120Hz for Squatting

Get Started

Resources

Biomechanics

Overhead Squat

Overview

Dimensions

Events

Discrete Metrics

Notes

Get Started

Resources

Biomechanics

​Overview

​Dimensions

​Events

​Discrete Metrics

​Notes

Overview

Dimensions

Events

Discrete Metrics

Notes