Stable and strong legs are beneficial to more than just dedicated athletes. Everyone can benefit from a sturdy foundation, and if you want to improve your leg strength, then perhaps include some squats and deadlifts into your routine. Research has found that these two exercises are important for developing strength and balance in the lower body and can keep you moving throughout the day. Keep reading to learn why these exercises should become a staple in your routine.
1. Comprehensive Muscle Engagement
The best workouts are those that work multiple muscle groups at the same time, leading to a more rounded workout. Squats and deadlifts both achieve this, targeting the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and core. This combined engagement not only builds strength in your legs but also your functional fitness for everyday activities.
2. Enhanced Coordination and Stability
Similar to activating several muscle groups, squats and deadlifts also aid with better coordination and stability. This is because many of the muscle groups are stabilizing muscles. While making you stronger, the bigger plus to stability is preventing injuries from doing other physical activities.
3. Efficient Workout Structure
How you build your workout can determine its effectiveness. The best leg training regimens start with compound lifts, such as squats and deadlifts. Beginning your workout with these two exercises instead of finishing with them can help maximize your energy and focus, giving you the best muscle growth.
4. Variety in Exercises
Don’t just rely on the basic exercises to get you strong and powerful legs. Consider spicing it up with variations like Bulgarian split squats, single-leg deadlifts, and step-ups to correct any muscle imbalances and enhance stability through single-leg workouts. Or, try out some isolation exercises like hamstring curls, calf raises, and glute bridges to target those smaller muscle groups.
5. Improved Athletic Performance
Athletes need to keep their bodies in tip-top shape, and one of the biggest categories to keep strong is their legs. With regular training, you only increase the power and strength in those muscles, which can turn into better performance on the track, field, or court. Having strong legs can also aid with posture and reduce the risk of injuries.
6. Increased Calorie Burn
Calorie burn is important when leading a healthy lifestyle, and since the legs have some of the body’s biggest muscles, you’ll definitely be breaking a sweat. Leg workouts like squats and deadlifts can also boost your heart rate and may even burn more calories than upper body exercises, perfect for keeping those pounds off.
7. Foundation for Future Growth
For those just jumping into the world of squats and deadlifts, make sure to start with bodyweight versions first to build up your strength. As you get more comfortable with these exercises, you can increase the difficulty or variability with dumbbells, resistance bands, or kettlebells. These will further encourage muscle growth and endurance within your legs.
Final Thoughts
Adding these two exercises to your workout not only helps your leg muscles but also increases your whole body’s functional fitness. By interspersing these workouts with targeted strength activities or cardio, you’ll be able to achieve your fitness goals and move through life more easily. Try these two great exercises in your next leg workout!