Muscle of the Month

The Hamstrings

The Hamstring is actually a group of muscles that run down the back of the thigh. It is made up of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus, which run from the pelvis to the upper tibia (lower leg bone). Collectively, their functions are to bend the knee and to assist the glutes in straightening the hip. The hamstring muscles are not nearly as large as the quadriceps, nor are they as visible, so sometimes they take a “backseat”. However, good hamstring strength and flexibility is key to proper posture, good back health, and daily activities like walking, standing, climbing stairs, and bending over. The hams are also extremely important in athletic activities where the body is propelled upward or forward, such as jogging, sprinting, and jumping. Great exercises to develop the hamstrings include:

Lunges Deadlifts Lying hamstring curls Squats Leg press