Your favorite bodybuilder’s favorite bodybuilder probably starts their lower-body workouts with leg curls, not squats. It’s not some ancient muscle-making tradition, nor is it an industry secret.
Physique pros like Mike Israetel and John Meadows, social media studs like Sam Sulek, and even renowned coaches like Dave Tate & Joe Bennett have all endorsed leg curls prior to squatting.
In fewer than 500 words, we’re going to teach you why.
First, an anatomy primer. Squats involve the knee and hip joints; your hamstrings move both. However, this also means squats are a subpar hamstring exercise.
- Studies tell us the hamstrings shorten at one end and lengthen at the other during squats. Their overall length doesn’t really change, limiting muscle activation. (1)
- Strength researcher Greg Nuckols has discussed how emphasizing your hamstrings while squatting could interfere with how much weight you can lift.
[Related: Best Knee Sleeves for Squatting]
Doing leg curls before squats can be useful if …