Orthopedist Warns About “Sorority Squat”
by Ima Phibber
It’s November, so that means football season is nearing its end. Football fans have been gathering in The Grove, The Junction, in Hattiesburg, and Friday nights at high school games cheering on their teams this fall. The tailgating, festivities, and games call for many pictures, especially for the females. They have to get dressed to the nine and post their pics to Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The many group pics calls for a fairly new phenomenon called the sorority squat.
The sorority squat was invented by sorority girls to fit more people into a picture. People on the front row do a cute knee bend or squat, and that allows for people on the back row to be seen in the picture. It has become a fixture in the pictures of young ladies these days. Many times, there is no need for it, they just do it because they think it’s cute and fun.
Dr. Kye Alfa-Kapa, a local orthopedist at The Valley Medical Center, is warning people, especially young ladies, about the perils of the sorority squat. Dr. Alfa-Kapa said, “I’m seeing more and more ladies with leg injuries caused by the sorority squat. Most of the cases are knee injuries, but I’ve seen some quad, calf, and hip injuries as well. I’m not sure what is causing it, but it is troubling. Many times, extra weight can cause issues with joints and leg injuries, but the ladies I’ve seen that have been injured from the sorority squat are not overweight.”
Dr. Alfa-Kapa added, “I have a few theories on the sorority squat injuries. I think these shakes and teas ladies are buying at these “nutrition shops” could be a cause. What is in these drinks, and what are they doing to the tendons, ligaments, and muscles? These GLP-1s like Ozempic and their side effects could be a cause as well. Botox could potentially be a cause too. I think climate change may even be a cause. I do know that more study and research needs to go into solving the issue.”
Dr. Alfa-Kapa is recommending that ladies do plenty of leg workouts like squats and lunges to strengthen their legs. He recommends starting out light to prevent any leg injuries, and he recommends to start working out in the summer to prep for the long football season in the fall. He also recommends that ladies over 50 not even attempt the sorority squat; he feels the risk is not worth it.
I talked to a few young ladies about Dr. Alfa-Kapa’s recommendations. One sorority member at Ole Miss said, “I think Dr. Alfa-Kapa Delta or whatever is full of it. I have seen one girl get injured from the sorority squat, but it was because she was drunk and wearing heels. Me and my girls are gonna keep squatting, and he can jump in a lake.”
One high school cheerleader said, “I haven’t heard of anybody getting hurt from the sorority squat. My mom did catch a bad cramp one time when she did it, and she went down to one knee and had to be helped up. I love doing it. I do it all the time, even when I don’t have to. All us girls thinks it’s cute for pictures. Who cares what the doctor said? I’m gonna keep doing it.”