Muscle Build

Ham It Up!

Tucked away beneath your backside, you rarely see your hamstrings, never mind pay much attention to them in the gym. But here are three good reasons to give your hams the workout they deserve.

1. Muscle symmetry: legs that look muscular and full from every angle have aesthetic appeal.

2. Lower back health: muscle imbalance between your quadriceps and hamstrings can cause your tailbone to tuck in and flatten your lower back, placing unnecessary stress on the lower back and discs.

3. Knee health: weak hamstrings can cause knee problems if they are not strong enough to absorb the forces associated with running or even walking.

Perform this workout no more than twice a week and allow at least a day's rest between sessions. If you're new to hamstrings training, perform one set of each exercise for two weeks before increasing the number of sets. If you're already training your hamstrings and want a new routine, perform two or three sets of each exercise.