Depending on one’s health of their knee joint(s) and their tendons (which cross over the joint), the additional muscle activation and subsequent force that runs through the knees can be irritating or even painful.

Iron Bull Strength and their equipment are two of my favorite brands. They are one of the only businesses I can always rely on to make great products, whether it’s a barbell pad for hip thrusts, weightlifting hooks, or bumper plates. Versatility: Squat wedges can be used for a variety of exercises beyond just squats, such as lunges, step-ups, and calf raises. This versatility makes it a valuable addition to any home or commercial gym setup, allowing for a greater variety of exercises and muscle groups to be targeted. The wedge is made of high-density rubber and is tilted at 20 degrees, with a lift of slightly under two inches at its maximum point. The wedge is surprisingly robust, weighing 14 pounds, making it great for big lifts and the assurance that your feet will not slip about as you work out. Recommended by fitness experts and physical therapists: The workout wedges enhance your squat performance by elevating your heels to appropriate height, improve your lower body strength and reducing the effect of poor mobility and flexibility at the ankle, knee and hip. It is helpful for stretching the tight muscle before/after exercise, relieve and prevent common foot problems such as Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendonitis heels spurs, shin splints, calf strains, etc. Often simple in their construction, and sometimes made up of only wooden boards and some triangular wedges, slant boards provide an angled surface that you can stand on to place your calves or shins in a more stretched-out position. In turn, this extension allows for a more well-rounded activation of your lower leg muscles’ full range of motion. And more range of motion is often a good thing—it can help you yield more power from your running form.However, sometimes it’s not as much about using wedges and boards to work around lousy or restricted mobility as it is to avoid pain or discomfort as tissues lengthen out. These squat wedges are made from highly durable and extra firm foam. Using squat wedges is a great way to not only enhance your squat posture, especially for those who have limited, or minimal ankle mobility but also improve other body weak points. Another rather sweet benefit of squat wedges and slant boards is their ability to alter the demands of how aggressively certain muscle groups must work when squatting. More specifically, squatting with the heels elevated results in greater recruitment of muscle fibers from the quadriceps muscles, which can be used to the benefit of the lifter based on their needs or goals.

Some boards, like the StrongTek Portable Slant Board, don’t even use grip tape, but rather have heel supports that jut out perpendicular to the board’s service, giving you support from a secondary platform instead of friction. These supports can feel a little precarious if you’re standing on your board with your toes facing downward, especially in the steeper settings. But for most other applications, this isn’t as much of a concern. How We Selected PERFECTLY DESIGNED: First, we designed our squat wedges to be independent, one for each foot, so you can place them the way you want (feet straight, outwards or inwards) and choose a wide or narrow stance. Second, after extensive research and trials, we found that a 30 to 60 millimeter incline was the perfect angle for the wedges to maximize comfort and performance. Squats are excellent for improving your range of motion and making everyday activities more accessible.

Like anything else, wedges and slant boards have a time and place for their use. Reasons for their use can vary greatly, ranging from safety to altered muscular activity and even injury rehabilitation. As runners, we have loads of reasons to thank our legs. They carry us through every stride, whether they like it or not, and they experience thousands of impacts with the ground every time we lace up our trainers and tap out a jog. Ultimately, those impacts add up over time. And if you’re not taking time to strengthen key areas like your calves, ankles, and knees, you might end up with some underdeveloped mobility, which isn’t ideal if you’re a high-mileage runner. If avoiding injury is a goal of yours, try a slant board: a multi-use tool for your gym that can yield more targeted gains from your leg workouts. Trevor Raab Not only is either angle excellent for squatting, but having access to that 24° slant allows you to use this heel wedge as a really effective calf stretcher.

Almost all slant boards come with some sort of sandpaper, rubber, or other gripping surface to help keep your feet in place, which is especially helpful if you’re maxing out an adjustable board’s angle and relying more on friction to stay standing. Not every tape is going to perform the same, though, with most cheap options offering little in terms of traction. On the other hand, some of the higher-quality grip tapes can also be incredibly abrasive. So perhaps avoid some of the coarsest ones if you’re hopping on one of these boards in your nice trainers right after a run. Novice squatters tend to fall forward when they squat, especially when they add weight. This is often because the squatter has tight hip flexors or weak glutes. But, don’t worry—your hips and glutes will get stronger the more you squat!Personally, I’d advocate that you use as little angle as required to produce the effects you’re after (perfect squat form, avoiding discomfort in your foot or calves, etc.). Think of it as the minimal effective dose required to achieve the effects you’re after.

The squat depth an individual can adequately (and safely) achieve is inherently linked to the overall mobility of their muscles, tendons, and joints. With everything in the body essentially being linked, decreased mobility in one area of the body (the lower body, in particular) can reduce overall squat performance and range of motion. If you’re a heel wedge manufacturer and want your product reviewed and included in this article, please get in touch. High Quality Sturdy Foam Sloping Board】--- Our Calf Stretcher is made of EPP environmentally friendly material, non-toxic, odorless, waterproof and oil-proof, not only recyclable, but also naturally degradable.Calf stretcher can withstand the weight of a 440lbs adult. Compared to wooden and EVA foam material inclined slant board,it is lighter and stronger. On the other hand, the ATG Buddies have that flared cone-shaped base which should improve stability somewhat. Good Incline Angle This is the ‘solution’ I used to use at the gym and, to be completely honest, it is absolutely awful.In addition to building muscle in your lower body, squats can strengthen the ligaments and tendons around your legs. This increases stability and prevents injuries. The 3 piece Squat Wedge set will help you through your ATG program and comes with the following items: