Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Many lifters assume their hamstrings get enough work from squats, lunges, and other lower-body exercises.
But there's a catch. The hamstrings cross both the hip and the knee.
During squat-based movements, the hips and knees extend simultaneously. As the hamstrings shorten at one joint, they lengthen at the other, limiting their overall change in length and reducing their contribution to the movement.
That's one reason exercises like the Seated Leg Curl can be so valuable.
They train the hamstrings through their primary role: knee flexion, while placing them in a relatively lengthened position at the hip.
📲 Want to understand why exercises work, not just how to perform them?
Explore the Muscle & Motion Strength Training App for in-depth anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise analysis. 🚀💪
Many lifters assume their hamstrings get enough work from squats, lunges, and other lower-body exercises.
But there's a catch. The hamstrings cross both the hip and the knee.
During squat-based movements, the hips and knees extend simultaneously. As the hamstrings shorten at one joint, they lengthen at the other, limiting their overall change in length and reducing their contribution to the movement.
That's one reason exercises like the Seated Leg Curl can be so valuable.
They train the hamstrings through their primary role: knee flexion, while placing them in a relatively lengthened position at the hip.
📲 Want to understand why exercises work, not just how to perform them?
Explore the Muscle & Motion Strength Training App for in-depth anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise analysis. 🚀💪
