In the overhead squat, which fault occurs when the chest drops too much?

• A. Inactive shoulder position
• B. Bar moving forward of the frontal plane
• C. Internally rotated shoulders
• D. Immature torso position

Answer: (D)

In an overhead squat, keeping the torso tall and the chest up as you descend and press the bar overhead is essential. If the chest drops too much, the torso isn’t staying upright and the upper body rounds or collapses forward. This is described as an immature torso position—the trunk isn’t maintaining a stable, tall posture through the movement, which often stems from limited thoracic (mid-back) mobility, insufficient core bracing, or inadequate hip and ankle control to stay upright while the arms support the bar overhead.

This pattern contrasts with the other faults: inactive shoulder position is about the shoulder girdle not staying actively engaged; internally rotated shoulders describe how the arms rotate inward rather than how the chest position changes; and bar path forward of the frontal plane relates to where the bar travels relative to the body, which can be a consequence of a forward-leaning torso but doesn’t specifically name the torso’s lack of upright position. The chest dropping points most directly to the torso being immature in its ability to stay vertical during the lift.