At the moment I don't do any squats, simply because I can't put my arms behind my back to hold the bar. It's put stress on my shoulders, and plus I can't go back enough. Is this a shoulder problem or more of a flexibility problem? How can I correct this as I really want to do squats. For lower body/back, I do deadlifts and leg press

It sounds like flexibility, have you had any injurys in the past that may have caused this problem?

ORIGINAL: vdk_au

At the moment I don't do any squats, simply because I can't put my arms behind my back to hold the bar. It's put stress on my shoulders, and plus I can't go back enough. Is this a shoulder problem or more of a flexibility problem? How can I correct this as I really want to do squats. For lower body/back, I do deadlifts and leg press

Wow! Fast reply! I'm not sure but all I remember is I've never been able to put my arms behind my back. Are there any links you can direct me to help with my flexibility. I want to do squats!

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00067

That page has a bunch of stretches/exercises you can do to help stretch the shoulder. I'm assuming the problem is your shoulders because you say its putting stress on them to try to put them behind you to hold the bar.

There are lots of other good stretches out there, run a google search and you should find some.

Thanks. The problem is I can't even place my arms far enough behind my back, basically my wrists can't even past my body

that bad? try this one. straighten your arm and grab a door frame or anything you can get a sturdy grip on. gradually twist your upper body and stretch your chest/shoulder.

do it as much as you want try to increase your Range of Motion. It kind of mimics the same positioning you will use when squating, accept your arms will be bent at the elbow.

This is more of a chest stretch, but I think it may help you out.

I got to thinking maybe your chest is tight and further hindering your shoulders ROM...I could be way off though...

ORIGINAL: vdk_au

Thanks. The problem is I can't even place my arms far enough behind my back, basically my wrists can't even past my body

Front squats are always an option while you are working on your flexibility.

Definately sounds like a flexibility issue.  Try taking a wider grip on the bar.

Smound had the same problem and I sent him a big long PM about it. Maybe he still has it...

Yea I'd like him to send a copy of it, or maybe you could send it to me as well :)...

I also would like to know how he got his flexibility back. RippedChick, could it have been a problem of benching too much? I remembered in the past, when I benched it used to hurt my shoulders, but not anymore. I don't know but everything seems to not hurt now, esp when I joined the gym..weird

Use a Smith Machine to do your squats.  You won’t even have to hold the bar (just be careful).

What do you do if you lean forward and it racks the bar and stops it from coming down?

ORIGINAL: vdk_au

Yea I'd like him to send a copy of it, or maybe you could send it to me as well :)...

I also would like to know how he got his flexibility back. RippedChick, could it have been a problem of benching too much? I remembered in the past, when I benched it used to hurt my shoulders, but not anymore. I don't know but everything seems to not hurt now, esp when I joined the gym..weird

I don't have a copy so you would have to PM him. You'd also have to ask because he hasn't given me an update on his flexibility but last I heard it was getting better. If he doesn't have it PM me and I'll write it all up again when I have some time.

ORIGINAL: Atomic

What do you do if you lean forward and it racks the bar and stops it from coming down?

 
Try again without leaning forward?  I don’t know.
Of all the things that could go wrong in a squat, prematurely reracking the bar seems rather harmless.
 

Try sumo squats.