Questions tagged [legs]

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Training leg adductors and abductors while I have really weak ankles/calves

I am getting back into weight lifting after the covid pause. During covid I ended up losing a lot of muscle through a combination of not eating enough and not going to the gym. So I am trying to get ...
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0 votes
1 answer
100 views

How to take advantage of testosterone and HGH boost provided by leg day?

According to Norwegian study, leg exercises, especially squat, result in increased testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH) levels, which in turn resulted in greater biceps growth when biceps were ...
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1 answer
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How to substitute common machine leg exercises with free weight ones in a bodybuilding workout plan

Consider a typical bodybuilding leg workout that consists of multiple machine exercises combined with some barbell exercises, say for example the following Seated leg extensions (Smith machine ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Do front/back squats strengthen upper body?

I know it's obviously not gonna be the same as targeting my upper body directly, but will I still get some strength benefits in my upper body from doing front & back squats with a barbell? I feel ...
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13 votes
1 answer
4k views

If a child scooters everyday, does it make one leg of him/her larger than the other?

My six-year-old daughter scooters every day for about an hour. She feels very comfortable scootering with her right leg on the scooter and refuses to switch legs. My question is: If she keeps doing ...
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5 votes
2 answers
217 views

How important is it to train glute medius?

I seem to always have weak glutes, and have simply got into the routine of doing exercises like banded clamshells and donkey kicks a couple times per week. If I don't stick to doing them, I then run ...
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3 votes
0 answers
72 views

Training muscles for scuba diving

I'm a keen trail runner, and when scuba diving you're using only your legs to propel, so in theory everything should be fine. However, I'm getting cramps and I need to move slowly to prevent them. It ...
2 votes
1 answer
567 views

Is Calves Raises barefoot a proper training method?

Is it a good method to do Calves Raises barefoot? I am working on balance/stability, and realized when shoes aren't on, there is much greater range in toes and feet flexion. Interested in knowing if ...
2 votes
0 answers
105 views

Is the Overhead position of the Overhead Press the same as that of the Overhead Squat?

I've got many doubts on if there is any difference between the overhead position of the Overhead Press and that of the Overhead Squat. Let me clarify. The proper final position of the Overhead Press ...
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2 votes
1 answer
738 views

Should I lock my knees doing Leg Press?

When using a leg press machine for reps, what should the range of motion be? And specifically, should I lock out my knees or not?
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2 votes
2 answers
118 views

How to be balanced and stable in Good Morning + Squat

This exercise (Good Morning + Squat) is taken from this video of Olesiy Torokhtiy: GIF I wanted to explore the best technique to do that. My first doubt is about the balance. The barbell is not above ...
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4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Do squat and deadlift work the hip flexors and extensors in a balanced way?

I've seen plenty of leg routines based entirely (or almost entirely) on squats and deadlifts. My simple question is this routine is balanced. Both in squat and deadlift the hip flexors shortens on the ...
4 votes
1 answer
339 views

Bio-mechanical analysis of squat: torque on the knee and on the hip

There are many biomechanical analyzes of the squat on the web, but there are lots of things are not clear for me. Let's consider for instance a high-bar back squat. An analysis is provided by this ...
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2 votes
1 answer
86 views

Mind-muscle cues for hips flexion without tilting the pelvis

I need some cues about how to flex the hips (for instance in deadlift, squat or to get into the starting position of barbell row) without causing anterior or posterior pelvic tilt. Of course bracing ...
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3 votes
3 answers
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Why is (said to be) safe to posteriorly tilt the pelvis in hip thrust?

There are many people showing images and videos in which posterior pelvic tilt is suggested to maximize the glutes activation in some exercises. One of this is hip thrust. Since glutes may ...
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2 votes
2 answers
128 views

Building the thigh muscles near the knee area

My thighs are around 22.5 inches /57cm when I measure them around the highest girth of the thighs, these can be considered average thigh circumfrence I believe, nothing too big nor too small. But the ...
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is this calf gym machine called?

I would like to buy a calf machine like the one on the picture below. When they have adjustable weights and the shoulder pads, does anyone know what they are called then?
1 vote
0 answers
125 views

What is the perfect Squat depth and tempo? [closed]

I have been lifting for 3 years managed a 170kg/375lbs squat with belt and low bar. Now I wish to start over with my squat and perform it high bar. My question is what is the best depth for the squat (...
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1 answer
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Do glutes necessarily posteriorly tilt the pelvis while extending the hips?

Here it is written that: With the femur well stabilized, activation of the hip extensors can also posteriorly tilt the pelvis. For simplicity, let's focus on glutes maximum. My questions are: If we ...
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1 vote
0 answers
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Single leg stand exercise

Am I right in thinking that this exercise can be used to strengthen your feet aswell as your hips? In the past I was given it by a physio due to my problems with flat feet / plantar fasciitis. The ...
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0 votes
1 answer
61 views

Is it right that frontal muscles above knee gets tired (don't like it) during bicycling with heightened load (>260W)?

I am doing 15 min cycling each day at home and each time I try am putting maximum load (by regulating load and decreasing RPM) for periods of 1 minute and 1.5 minute. I am keeping 85-90 RPM at these ...
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4 votes
1 answer
929 views

Reasons to train lower body

Why train legs? As an Olympic lifter this sounds like a ridiculous question to me, because that's just about all I do. However, when met with this question, I couldn't find any non aesthetics based ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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So (one of) my toes won't come up when running - flat footed

I was a relatively keen jogger (10-15k /day), no problems. I have not jogged for about two years, and started up again. I'm only jogging 2-3k a day at first. This has been a couple weeks now. So, when ...
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2 votes
1 answer
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Are leg 'pull' exercises a thing?

I was doing leg press today and the though struck me, does a 'leg pull' exist where you are pulling yourself towards your feet? Sort of like doing squats with your feet glued to the ceiling! If so ...
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2 votes
1 answer
571 views

Converting a 10k step goal to a mini stepper

I purchased a mini stepper during one of the early lockdowns to keep the blood flowing at my standing desk. I’m interested in upping the overall steps I get in per day. I’ve never measured steps ...
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2 votes
1 answer
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Are squats on the tip of the feet and bending back good for the legs?

In some video, I saw a guy showing a very effective, according to him, squat technique for working out your legs at home. The technique is such: a person should bend back, pulling their hands back ...
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2 votes
2 answers
746 views

Would front squats involve lower traps?

I'm currently in need of strengthening my lower traps, but I also plan to be doing a lot of front squats (for a different reason). I'm sure front squats alone wouldn't be enough to strengthen my lower ...
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0 votes
5 answers
173 views

During squat (front & back), is it mechanically possible to work the glutes more than the quads? How?

Title says it all. I am quad dominant. Yeah, it's bad. Trying to re-imagine myself doing some of the main exercises such as the squat, I wonder if it's possible, even for glute dominant people, to ...
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2 votes
1 answer
181 views

Split squats, knees over toes?

I've been doing split squats lately, partly to help strengthen my VMO I've read in a number of places that you should track your front knee over your toes in order to place more load on your VMO. But ...
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2 votes
1 answer
141 views

Does cardio build muscle?

One of the factors of muscle growth is mechanical tension which can be achieved throughout various methods. One of them is moving weights around, the other is pushing maximally against an immovable ...
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1 answer
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Slimming down big muscular (upper) legs

I am a short guy with pretty big legs, mainly the upper legs. In general I don't have a lot of body fat but the legs do have some body fat. My question is how to target these so that they slim down a ...
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2 votes
1 answer
126 views

Why is my leg mobility limited even when it doesn't feel like I'm stretching a muscle?

Scenario: I'm standing up straight, trying to raise one knee up in front of me, like I'm marching. Problem: I can't raise it up even to 90 degrees. See photo below. Ordinarily if my mobility is ...
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1 vote
1 answer
170 views

Leg workout for someone without barbell or heavy DB?

I live in a remote area of the city where there's no affordable gym nearby,in my apartment gym there are only DB upto 12.5kg,leg extn and curl machine.Any suggestions how to plan my leg workout with ...
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2 votes
1 answer
161 views

Back issues with single-leg deadlifts

So I've seen the following post, but there doesn't appear to be any mention of what the shoulders should do during a single-leg deadlift: Correct form and technique in single leg db deadlifts in ...
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3 votes
1 answer
218 views

Running, Riding a bike and hard leg workout (each activity being done once time a week): is it sufficient to enhance my cardio?

Monday: I work out legs with horizontal legs press, squat, romanian deadlift, kind of lunges with the tractions assistance machine, legs extensions and legs curl (almost 2 hours, but it's only one ...
2 votes
2 answers
746 views

Unable to do leg day

I started gym last month. I go to gym 5 days a week.I am happy with my workout in 4 days out of these (I can do more than 6 exercises given in my schedule ) but unfortunately on leg day I cant finish ...
1 vote
1 answer
56 views

My calf’s are always in pain [closed]

This started happening only recently. In high school about a couple years ago I used to play a lot of sports. Almost every day I’d be either playing soccer, basket ball, or football. I never had any ...
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3 votes
1 answer
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What is the best exercise to increase leg size

I have been going to the gym for nearly 4 years. My weight is currently 65kg. My upper body is healthy in comparison to my legs, so now I am focusing on my legs. I do exercise daily for legs, but ...
2 votes
1 answer
114 views

Optimal balance of exercises for a squat-less leg day

I would like to move away from barbell squats during leg day. Here is the leg program I have in mind (one day per week as part of a four-day lifting routine): EITHER Bulgarian Split Squat (5x5)/Hack ...
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0 votes
1 answer
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Leg workout plan

I have been hitting the gym for 3 months now and have been following this routine for my legs: Deadlifts : 4 sets, 6-8 reps Leg press: 4 sets, 8-10 reps Seated calf raises: 4 sets, 8-10 reps I switch ...
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2 votes
2 answers
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Can cycling with single leg improve endurance and increase slow twitch muscles with shorter workouts?

Can cycling with single leg improve endurance and increase slow twitch muscles with shorter workouts? Theory When muscle groups fatigue, they start to recruit larger motor units. That may explain ...
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4 votes
2 answers
5k views

Machine Leg Curl vs Glute-Ham-Raise

Often when arguing about the Leg Curl Machine being bad (eg. hurt your knees in many cases), people refer to the Glute-Ham-Raise as a way better (less harmful) alternative. To me, the movements of ...
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1 vote
0 answers
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Leg Training with Patella alta

A few days ago I visited my doctor because I got pain right besides and under my kneecap in the right leg when walking and going up/down stairs (only when extending my leg and only sometimes, it's ...
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2 votes
1 answer
112 views

Leg Extensions and Curls less harmful to your Knee with Light Weights

I want to change my workout routine a little and do Leg Extensions and Curls. Since I'm already lifting heavy on other exercises, I want to do the two with relative light weights but thererfor high ...
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6 votes
2 answers
184 views

post stretching tightness in posterior leg muscles

I'm a 28yo female, very physically active (circus arts, martial arts, cycling, yoga), and have been for my entire life. I have partial hyperflexibility (arms, lower back, toes), and have been working ...
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0 votes
1 answer
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Difficult to keep legs up during double lying leg raise

I've been doing pilates recently and we often do a lying leg raise, either with or without bent knees: Doing a singular leg is fine for me, I have no issues. However doing a double leg raise and I ...
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3 votes
2 answers
408 views

What next, after Pistol Squats

I perform body-weight exercises and so far had something to progress to without requiring weights. I am now able to do 8-12 reps of Pistol Squats. To strengthen my legs further is there any other more ...
1 vote
2 answers
257 views

Lower leg training

The lower leg has about 14 muscle, most people only train 2 muscles the Soleus and the Gastrocnemius. Are there any compound movements that work more than just the calf but more lower leg muscles at ...
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0 votes
1 answer
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Hanging leg curls

Has anyone tried hanging from a bar with a dumbbell between the legs and trying to do leg curls? For leg/knee raises it works fine, I'm asking cause I don't want to injure myself in the gym while ...
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3 votes
1 answer
146 views

Negative squats

Can doing negative squats with a belt, going down slowly then using arms to go back up be used to break a squat stalls? If not, are there any other benefit on using negative squats?
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