Fitness
Neutral Spine Bracing Cue
Neutral spine bracing cue stacks ribs over pelvis with abdominal tension before lifts—practice on hinges and planks before heavy bar work.
Neutral spine bracing cue teaches a stable trunk before lifts: ribs stacked over pelvis, slight abdominal brace, and breath held only for short efforts—not permanent breath-holding through entire sets early on. Think "tall belt line" rather than sucking stomach to spine.
Bracing differs from arching; extension-heavy setups belong to advanced squat styles after basics hold. Practice bracing with bodyweight hinges and planks before bar load.
If lower back changes shape rep to rep, load is too heavy or cues were skipped.
Common questions
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Should beginners hold their breath every rep?
Brief bracing on heavy reps is fine; beginners should breathe between reps on most sets. Passing out from constant valsalva is a technique mistake, not toughness.
Related terms
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