Head/Ear Congestion During Workouts? {also: squat form} page

[PearlTigress]

Hey everyone,

For the past two strength workouts I've been experiencing what feels like head congestion or ear pressure sort of. If you've driven up the Rockies you know that vague sense that maybe your ears need to pop but there's not enough pressure yet (not dramatic like an airplane). Also similar to a head cold when it's just in your head not your nose and throat. It starts after I get into my workout and sometimes I feel light headed as well. I'm doing weights but nothing extreme; starting with Body for Life. I thought I was going to pass out doing 8lb dumbbell shoulder presses, not from exertion but because of this odd symptom. Has anyone expeienced something similar, and what did you do?

I haven't been ill. I do have a weird bump in my chest that I'm not sure if it might be a rib going funky or what, so I'm going to see my chiro next week if I can. There's a recent history of breast cancer in my family (mom; thankfully recovered) but this isn't really in the breast tissue so I think it's something else. It's hard like a bone but only on one side and a couple inches in length.


FINALLY, I was doing squats to work my quads, but I mostly feel it in my hamstrings. Does that mean I'm doing it wrong, or does it work both and that just happens to be my weaker/more sore area? I stick my bohunkus out behind me like I'm supposed to...

Thanks for helping a newbie.

[EvRevFit]

How wide is your stance when you squat? Generally the wider the stance the more the glutes and hams jump in.

[PearlTigress]

Slightly wider than shoulder width, toes pointed out a bit, knees moving over toes.

[EvRevFit]

Hmm...sounds to me like maybe your hamstrings just aren't used to firing so much. I'd have to see exactly what you're doing to figure it out further. Anyway, if you want the movement to be more quad-dominant, you could try front or goblet squats.