SQUAT ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST

EXECUTION

4 Do heels remain on the ground throughout the lift?

7 8
Yes No
5 While squatting with a plumb line, is the client standing with one leg further away from the midline?
Yes No Which leg? L R
9
6 Does the client shift weight onto one leg more than the other during the lift?
13 Yes No Onto which leg? L R
7
2 7 Do the shoulders and butt rise at the same speed?
Yes No Which rises first? L R
8 Does the upper back round as the client descends or ascends?
Yes No When?

9 Does the lower back round as the client descends or ascends?

Yes No When?

4 10 Is there rotation of the pelvis during the squat?

Yes No In which direction?

SET-UP 11 Is there a side leaning of the trunk during the squat?

Yes No In which direction?
1 Are the feet symmetrical - are the left and
right feet turned outward to the same degree? 12 Does the bar tip or rotate during the squat?

Yes No Yes No In which direction?

2 Is one leg further forward than the other? 13 Does the belly hang out or the abdomen relax at any point during the squat?
Yes No Which leg? L R Yes No

3 Is there torsion in any part of the body? 14 Does either knee roll inside of a line drawn over the second toe at any point during the squat?
Yes No Where? Yes No Which leg? L R

chekinstitute.com | info@chekinstitute.com Adapted from the Scientific Back Training eLearning Course © CHEK Institute 2022
 SQUAT ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST

KEY INDICATORS

12 Key Indicators of Muscle Imbalances,

Muscle Weaknesses or Joint Restrictions:
• Rotation of the trunk
3
• Side leaning of the trunk
• Shifting weight during the lift

11 • Lifting one or both heels

• Rotation of the bar
3 10
• Tipping of the bar
• Medial (inward) rotation of one or both knees
• Incorrect activation of the abdominal wall
• Rounding of the back (upper or lower)

3 6 14
5 REMEMBER: True orthopedic dysfunction will
appear systematically in repeated lifts and
will often become more exaggerated with
heavier weights.

3 Are there genuine squat pattern

dysfunctions present?
1 Yes No
If yes, client needs Range-of-Motion
assessment to determine the cause of the
dysfunction and correct it.

chekinstitute.com | info@chekinstitute.com Adapted from the Scientific Back Training eLearning Course © CHEK Institute 2022