How To Train Leg Muscle

Your legs are your biggest muscle group. Some people argue that they are also the most important to exercise. It's said that a good leg workout will make the rest of your body grow as well. Even though legs are not much of a show casing muscle group, it's still important to exercise them the same as any other muscle group. The legs are made up of three different parts, quadriceps, hamstring, and calves.

The front part of the upper leg is known as the quadriceps, and is made up of four different muscles. The best way to exercise this area is with an isolated movement like the leg extension. This also is a good way to warm up the legs. Other good ways to exercise the quad muscles would be a compound movement like leg press or squats. These particular movements target all of the leg, but mostly the quadriceps. This part of the leg gets used more in your everyday life than the other parts, so it's not as important to exercise in the gym.

The back part of the upper leg is known as the hamstring. The hamstrings can be worked with an isolated movement such as leg curls (hamstring curls). This can be done standing, sitting, or lying; they all work well. Other compound exercises will hit the hamstrings good as well. These are exercises like squats, lunges, or leg press. To target the hamstrings better on the squat it's important to go down at least to a 90 degree angle. To target the hamstrings best on the leg press you should place your feet high up on the sled (area where feet go). The hamstrings don't get as much use in your everyday life, so it's to really work them in the gym.

The lower area of the leg is known as the calves. The calves have two parts to them, lower and upper. The lower area can be worked with seated calf raise, and the upper area can be worked with standing calf raises. Another good calf exercise is the donkey calf raise, which requires two people. One person will get on the others back while that person lifts their heels off the ground as far as they can. The calves also get worked during cardiovascular activity as well as the rest of the leg.

Because the legs are such a big muscle group, and they get lots of use, it's good to use higher reps when exercising them. I usually stay between 15 and 30 reps, but it's okay to go higher or lower from time to time. The body was built to run and jump, so it takes a lot to burn out the legs. Work hard in the gym, but if something does not feel right stop. Many people get sick and feel like they are going to pass out during a leg workout. If this is something that occurs with you try adding a little baking soda to your before workout drink, this will settle your stomach most likely preventing this. Even if you don't want big legs, just remember that training your legs will help the rest of your body gain size.

By : Adam C Schwartz
Article Source: ezinearticles.com