Box Squats and Coxis

[sobrinoc]

Question for all you seasoned veterans and lovers of the box squat like myself. During the past few weeks I have been unable to train due to some kind of injury to my coxis. I trust my rehab to my doctor in physical medicine (sorry, I don't know the term in english). Through xrays and other methods, she has come to the conclusion that I have injured the cartilege (sic?) or connective tissue in my coxis since xrays don't reveal any problems with the bone and the ligaments in my lower back seem ok. I also apparently have a longer than usual coxis. Yay, I have a tail!

Anyways, this is the first time I have suffered this kind of injury. The only new variable in my training or lifestyle has been the inclusion of box squats since around March. The injury surfaced around June and the diagnosis was done in July. I box squat to a series of boards about 18" long and as wide as an average key board.

I have not done any weight training per her recomendations since july. The pain goes away with meds and using one of those doughnut cushions.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to give all the possible relevant information. Has anyone ever suffered or heard of someone having similar problems due to box squatting. Is it possibly related to the width of the boards or some technical flaw I am not aware of? Am I some kind of weirdo with a long tail which simply is screwed over and cannot do this awesome exercise without pain?

Thanks in advance,
Christian

[dgunnermuro]

Sounds like you bruised your tailbone (coccyx). Probably dropping too hard/fast onto the box. You should ease onto the box under control. Looks like a foam pad is in your future.

[Brian Hopper]

Sounds like you bruised your tailbone (coccyx). Probably dropping too hard/fast onto the box. You should ease onto the box under control. Looks like a foam pad is in your future.

I agree, if you do box squats again use a foam pad. Also, dont plop on the box. This is what probably caused you to get injured.

[sobrinoc]

So basically my coccyx is screwed up forever? I'll never be able to box squat without the foam?

[dgunnermuro]

So basically my coccyx is screwed up forever? I'll never be able to box squat without the foam?

No way to know if your tailbone is going to prevent you from doing box squats. When it heals, try some light box squats and be really careful with the force that you sit on the box with. Don't free fall onto the box. Try a folded up towel or something padded. Most importantly, use some common sense. If it continually hurts to box sq. then do something else. More than a handful of lifters have become really good squatters without ever doing a box squat.

[mikesbench]

Might be worth using a wider box too, make sure it can support your entire butt easily.