Do Squats Work Hamstrings? Which Squat Type to Choose?

The squat is a stable exercise, effectively helping you build stronger legs. This is vital in several sports and to help keep people mobile as they age. Studies show better mobility is linked with higher life quality in old age.

It’s never too early to start squatting, a natural movement. However, you need to understand what the squat does and doesn’t do. For example, do squats work hamstrings? Let’s find out.

What Muscle Groups Make Up Hamstrings?

The hamstring sits just behind your thigh muscle. There are three muscles which make up the hamstring:

1. Biceps femoris

This is the outside muscle, it enables the flexing of your knee, allows you to extend your thigh from the hip, and rotates your lower leg, allowing it to move side-to-side.

2. Semimembranosus

This is the inside hamstring muscle, closest to the center of your body. It supports the biceps femoris and allows you to straighten your hip.

3. Semitendinosus

This muscle simply sits between the biceps femoris and the semimembranosus; facilitating their movement.

Activation of Hamstrings While Squatting

To properly understand squats for hamstrings and do squats work hamstrings, you need to understand how the squat activates this muscle group.

At this stage, we’re talking about the standard squat. Studies show that hamstring activation is minimal. This is because the hamstrings extend the hip and flex the knee.
Any exercise that extends the hip will activate the hamstring. Equally, so will any exercise which flexes the knee.

The squat extends the hip and simultaneously flexes the knee. This means the length, and therefore strain on the hamstring barely changes.

It’s why the answer to “Do squats build hamstrings” is no. However, studies show that deep squats may be significantly better at training your hamstrings.
Of course, other studies show that deep squats still won’t train your hamstrings effectively.

Do Squats Work hamstrings?

Many people ask are squats more quads or hamstrings. The simplest response is that they work the quads much harder than the hamstrings. However, there are variations of the squat which focus more on the hamstrings.

The squat is an excellent exercise if you’re looking to increase the size of your quads, glutes, and hip abductors. Research shows that undertaking squat training for 12 weeks saw a 4-7% increase in the size of participants’ quads. But, only a 1-3% increase in hamstring size.

In short, squats help the development of hamstrings but they don’t activate them enough to keep pace with the surrounding muscles.

As your quads, glutes, and hip abductors get stronger, you’ll create an imbalance with your hamstrings, increasing the likelihood of injuring your hamstring or knee.

Which Squat Is Best For Working Hamstrings?

Everyone looking to strengthen their legs should be thinking about exercises which build hamstrings. Fortunately, the right squat can help with this.
The following hamstring-focused squat exercises will target hamstrings more than the standard squat:

1. Low Bar Squat

This is similar to the standard back squat. The main difference is the bar sits lower on your back, around the top of the rear delts.

It forces the hips to sit back further and you to bend your knees less, increasing the load on the hamstrings.

2. Box Squat

This is similar to the low bar squat. The biggest difference is you have a box behind you. The box should be positioned so that when you sit on it, your hip crease is just below the knee.

Knowing the box is there and sitting on it means you will lean back more into the squat, activating your hamstrings in the same way as the low bar squat.

3. Front Foot Elevated Split Squat

This squat variant works best with dumbbells. Take one in each hand and make sure there is a small block in front of you. Six to twelve inches high will do.

Your front foot goes on the block, the dumbbells are by your sides, and your other leg goes behind you, similar to a lunge position.

It minimizes the knee bend and forces your hamstrings to do more of the work.

4. Plate Loaded V Squat

This squat requires a dedicated machine. You lean back onto the machine and it acts as a support when squatting. The way it curves as you move up and down pushes your hips back and increases focus on the hamstrings.

5. Kang Squat

This is a common variant used by Olympic weightlifters, specifically as a warm-up. The bar sits on your back and your feet are about hips-width apart.

You then push your hips back and bend your knees slightly, moving your back toward parallel with the floor.

Then, squat deep, this involves pushing your knees forward and your hips back.

How Does the Squat Compare To Other Hamstring Exercises?

Squats for hamstrings can help them develop. However, if you really want to improve the strength and size of your hamstrings, you need to include exercises that are better at targeting your hamstring.

The following 5 are superior to squats for hamstrings.

1. Good Morning

The good morning is a good example of squats for hamstrings that work. You start in the classic squat position with the barbell resting on your back and your feet hip-width apart.

Bend your knees slightly as you tilt at your hips, the aim is to get your back parallel to the floor. You’ll feel your hamstrings stretching.

You can drop into a squat after if you wish.

2. Romanian Deadlift

The Romanian deadlift involves you starting from a position where your hips are pushed out and your back is parallel to the floor. The bend in your knees is minimal, focusing more attention on your hamstrings.

3. Leg Curl

The leg curl requires you to lie on a bench and hook the back of your ankle under the bar. You then bend your knee, bringing your feet toward your buttocks. This will target your hamstrings.

4. Nordic Hamstring Curl

This exercise is commonly used by sprinters and other athletes who run fast. You’ll need a partner to hold your feet on the ground.

All you have to do is kneel on the floor and, while your partner is holding your feet, bend forward toward the ground. As your hamstrings and core get stronger you’ll get closer to the ground.

5. Hang Snatch

The hang snatch is an Olympic lift. The movement doesn’t start on the floor, instead, it starts with the barbell just above your knee. You then lift the bar above your head while dropping into a squat, before pushing yourself to standing.

This places more emphasis on the hip movement than the knee, increasing the load on your hamstrings.

FAQ

Check out the most frequently asked questions and let us know what else you need to know!

Are squats good for a pulled hamstring?

Hamstring injuries are surprisingly common. As the standard squat places little strain on the hamstrings, it can be a good way to help them recover after an injury.

Should you feel squats in your hamstrings?

While some variants are acceptable as squats for hamstrings, the squat should generally trigger a burn in your quads.

Widening your stance can help to shift the attention to your hamstrings and may result in feeling them a little more.

Do weak hamstrings affect squat?

A weak hamstring won’t affect the basic squat too much. However, weak hamstrings and glutes can become an issue when you are squatting with heavier loads. You’ll generally struggle to push back up from the bottom position.

That’s why you should train all your leg muscles and keep them balanced.

Conclusion

Do squats work hamstrings? Yes, but minimally. There are other exercises which are better for your hamstrings, as shown above.
That doesn’t mean you should give up on your squats! They are still an important part of leg strengthening. You simply need to add hamstring exercises to your routine.
Try them today and let us know the results!

References:

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4. Isear JA Jr, Erickson JC, Worrell TW. EMG analysis of lower extremity muscle recruitment patterns during an unloaded squat. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997 Apr;29(4):532-9. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199704000-00016. PMID: 9107637.
5. Bloomquist K, Langberg H, Karlsen S, Madsgaard S, Boesen M, Raastad T. Effect of range of motion in heavy load squatting on muscle and tendon adaptations. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013 Aug;113(8):2133-42. doi: 10.1007/s00421-013-2642-7. Epub 2013 Apr 20. PMID: 23604798.
6. Photos made by Torokhtiy Media Team