FITsociety IO
Book a demo

Hamstring Exercises: Training and Technique

Explore hamstring exercises with barbells, dumbbells, cables, machines and bodyweight. Find technique guidance and practical training variations.

Hamstring exercises target the muscles along the back of the thighs. This category includes hip-hinge movements, leg curls and bodyweight variations using equipment such as barbells, dumbbells, cables and machines.

About hamstring exercises

The hamstrings assist with hip extension and knee flexion. Exercises such as Romanian deadlifts, seated leg curls and glute-ham raises train these functions in different ways. Select a variation that matches your experience and equipment, since range of motion, resistance and setup vary between exercises.

Technique and training guidance

For hip-hinge exercises, keep your spine controlled and send your hips back before standing tall. During leg curls, keep the pad aligned with the lower leg and move smoothly rather than swinging. Use a load you can control, and stop if you feel sharp or unusual pain.

Stationary Barbell Lunges

Stationary Barbell Lunges

Stationary Barbell Lunges are a powerful exercise for building muscle strength and endurance in your lower body. This exercise offers a unique combination of balance, coordination, and strength, making it an excellent addition to your fitness routine. Execution Begin by placing the barbell on yo

Quads Strength Training
Stationary Bike

Stationary Bike

The Stationary Bike is a popular cardio exercise that helps improve your endurance and burn calories without putting much impact on your joints. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an effective but safe way to do cardio. Execution Make sure the bike is properly adjusted to your body

Quads Cardio
Stationary Bodyweight Lunges

Stationary Bodyweight Lunges

Bodyweight lunges are an exercise to strengthen and tone the lower body. This exercise also helps build muscle mass and improves balance and coordination. Execution Begin with your feet hip-width apart. Step forward with one leg while bending both knees to approximately 90-degree angles. E

Quads Strength Training
Stationary Lunge

Stationary Lunge

The Stationary Lunge is a powerful exercise that targets strengthening and toning your lower body. This exercise offers a unique combination of balance, coordination, and strength, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and advanced athletes. Execution Begin in a standing position with

Quads Strength Training
Stationary Side Lunge with Barbell

Stationary Side Lunge with Barbell

The stationary side lunge with a barbell combines strength and flexibility in one dynamic movement. This exercise targets your lower body but also requires core stability, making it an excellent addition to your fitness routine. Execution Begin by placing the barbell on your upper back, not on y

Quads Strength Training
Step Ups to High Knee V2

Step Ups to High Knee V2

The Step Ups to High Knee V2 exercise is a dynamic movement that combines strength, balance, and coordination. This exercise is unique because it challenges not only your lower body but also improves your core stability and balance. Execution Find a sturdy elevation, such as a step or low bench.

Quads Strength Training
Step-Up onto Chair with Bodyweight

Step-Up onto Chair with Bodyweight

Would you like to add a simple but effective exercise to your fitness routine that you can do with minimal equipment? The Step-Up onto Chair with Bodyweight exercise is a fantastic choice that helps you build strength and stability in your lower body while also improving your balance and coordinatio

Quads Cardio
Step-Ups to High Knee

Step-Ups to High Knee

Would you like to add a dynamic exercise to your fitness routine that improves both your strength and coordination? Try the Step-Ups to High Knee. This exercise combines the traditional step-up with a powerful knee drive, making it an excellent choice for strengthening your legs and improving your b

Quads Strength Training
Stiff-Leg Deadlift

Stiff-Leg Deadlift

The deadlift is also known as the king of all exercises. Looking at the list of involved muscles above, you can infer why. The calf muscles bring the lower legs, which extend forward, back into alignment above the ankles when you stand up and also provide stability throughout the entire movement. T

Hamstrings Strength Training
Stiff-Legged Deadlift

Stiff-Legged Deadlift

The Stiff-Legged Deadlift is a powerful exercise that targets the lower back, hamstrings, and glutes. This variation of the traditional deadlift places more emphasis on the posterior chain, making it an excellent choice for improving posture and increasing overall strength. Execution Begin with

Hamstrings Strength Training
Straight Leg Kickback

Straight Leg Kickback

The Straight Leg Kickback is an effective exercise for strengthening and toning your glutes and hamstrings. This exercise, which you can perform using only your body weight or with resistance bands for an additional challenge, is perfect for building strength and improving the shape of your backside

Glutes Strength Training
Straight Leg Kickback V2

Straight Leg Kickback V2

The Straight Leg Kickback V2 is an effective exercise for strengthening and toning your glutes and hamstrings. This exercise is unique because it targets the backs of your legs and helps you develop a strong, toned lower body without using heavy weights. Execution Start on your hands and knees o

Glutes Strength Training
Sumo Barbell Deadlift

Sumo Barbell Deadlift

The Sumo Deadlift is a variation of the traditional deadlift in which you use a wider stance. This technique places more emphasis on your inner thighs, hips, and lower back, making it an excellent exercise for building strength and stability in these areas. Execution Begin by placing the barbe

Glutes Strength Training
Sumo Deadlift

Sumo Deadlift

The Sumo Deadlift is a powerful exercise that targets a wide range of muscle groups, with a unique emphasis on the lower-body muscles. This variation of the traditional deadlift uses a wider stance, creating a deeper squat position and emphasizing the inner thighs and glutes. Execution Begin wit

Quads Strength Training
Sumo Squat

Sumo Squat

The squat is one of the best-known exercises for the legs. It is a compound exercise; an exercise that involves multiple joints and muscle groups. This is also evident from the long list of muscles involved, as mentioned above. There can be many differences in the way the squat is performed, such as

Quads CrossFit
Sumo Squat Between the Legs with Resistance Band

Sumo Squat Between the Legs with Resistance Band

The Sumo Squat Between the Legs with a resistance band is a powerful exercise that targets strengthening and toning your lower body. This variation of the traditional squat adds an extra dimension through the resistance, making your muscles work harder. Execution Stand with your feet wider than

Quads Strength Training
Sumo Squats - Bodyweight

Sumo Squats - Bodyweight

Introduction: Sumo squats are a variation of the traditional squat in which you stand with a wider stance. This exercise primarily targets your inner thighs, glutes, and hips. It is an effective way to strengthen these areas and develop greater stability in your lower body. Execution: Begin with yo

Glutes Strength Training
Table Top Single-Leg Extension

Table Top Single-Leg Extension

The Table Top Single-Leg Extension is an effective exercise that focuses on strengthening your core and improving your balance. This exercise offers a unique combination of stability and strength training for your lower body, with a special focus on the abdominal muscles and legs. Execution Begi

Back Strength Training
Tabletop Both-Leg Extension

Tabletop Both-Leg Extension

The Tabletop Both-Leg Extension is an effective exercise that focuses on strengthening your core and improving your balance. This exercise offers a unique combination of stability and strength training, making it an excellent addition to your fitness routine. Instructions Begin in a tabletop pos

Back Strength Training
Terminal Knee Extension

Terminal Knee Extension

The leg extension is the only exercise in which the quadriceps muscles can be trained in isolation from muscles such as the hamstrings, glutes, abdominals, and lower back. The terminal knee extension is a variation in which a much smaller range of motion is used. In addition, only the weight of the

Quads Strength Training
Toe Touch

Toe Touch

The Toe Touch is a simple but effective exercise that targets your abdominal muscles and flexibility. It is a great way to strengthen your core and improve your hamstring flexibility without having to go to the gym. Execution Begin in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart. In

Hamstrings Stretching
Trap Bar Deadlift

Trap Bar Deadlift

The deadlift is also known as the king of all exercises. Looking at the list of muscles involved above, you can infer why. The calf muscles bring the lower legs, which extend forward, back into alignment over the ankles when you stand up and also work to stabilize throughout the entire movement. Th

Quads Strength Training
Trap Bar Romanian Deadlift

Trap Bar Romanian Deadlift

The deadlift is also known as the king of all exercises. Looking at the list of muscles involved above, you can infer why. The calf muscles bring the lower legs, which extend forward, back into alignment above the ankles when you stand up and also provide stabilization throughout the entire movemen

Hamstrings Strength Training
Trap Bar Squat

Trap Bar Squat

The squat is one of the best-known exercises for the legs. It is a compound exercise; an exercise that involves multiple joints and muscle groups. This is also evident from the long list of muscles involved, as mentioned above. There can be many differences in the way the squat is performed, such as

Quads CrossFit