
In addition, like a pendulum accepting an equal and opposite reaction, your hamstrings are what allow you to land these movements safely. When you explode into a vertical jump, perform single-leg bounds down the turf, or sprint out of the starting blocks, your hamstrings are going to work. Strong hamstrings give your lower body power. If you want legs like tree trunks, you can't ignore your hammies. Hamstring Exercises Give You Better Balance and Lower Body Strength In fact, your heel striking the pavement is the beginning step to a hamstring curl.

Whether you realize it or not, you use your hamstrings in everyday activities, even when bending down to pick up a laundry basket (much like a deadlift) or walking down the street to grab the mail. Hamstring Exercises Are Essential to Functional Living

This forces our quads to pick up the extra slack, which can manifest in knee pain, according to the Journal of Physical Therapy Science. In other words, we can't fire our hamstrings through exercises that could require both the front and back sides of the legs, like Bulgarian split squats. In addition, since so many lower body exercises target the quads, many of us lose the mind-muscle connection with our glutes and hamstrings. As described by the Asian Spine Journal, building up strength in your hamstrings takes the pressure off your trunk - particularly your lower back muscles. The back of your body - your legs, back, and glute muscles - works together as a complete system. When you think " hamstring injuries ," your mind probably wanders to a sprinter or running back, clutching his hamstring in pain.Īnd while a hamstring tear is a common injury - especially amongst explosive and competitive athletes - it's not the only injury resulting from weak hamstrings. Hamstrings Prevent Injury in Your Lower Back and Knees There are three primary reasons to incorporate hamstring exercises into your lower body training program: preventing injury, improving functionality, and developing strength. Before beginning any new workout regimen, please consult a personal trainer. Please note: This post is meant for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Below, we’ll explain why hamstring exercises are essential and go over various movements to work into your leg day workout.

Hamstring exercises are a vital component of any training program. Training the backside of the body - including your glutes, hamstrings, calves, and back muscles - helps reduce the risk of injuries (particularly in your knees and hips), counterbalances the front side of your body (like your core, quadriceps, and chest muscles), and allows you to power through explosive movements (like broad jumps, box jumps, or pushing a sled). Just as with the muscles on the anterior side of the body, working the entire posterior chain is critical - not only for your training but for your overall quality of life. Over time, this leads to an underdeveloped posterior-chain - the muscles that make up the back of the body. When training the lower body, many athletes focus on quad -dominant exercises, such as leg extensions, barbell squats, leg presses, and lunges. " But even on the most gut-wrenching (er, quad -wrenching?) leg day, your hamstrings are often overlooked. You know the saying, "Never skip leg day.
