FACTS & SCIENCE. THE ANATOMY OF A SQUAT.
Another fact-based Styrka article
Squats and leg presses are both phenomenal choices for your quadriceps development, no matter if it is strength and or hypertrophy that is your main goal.
But there are many fact-based layers to the squat.
From the impact of doing the squat in your muscle’s full range of motion relative to staying with a limited top, or bottom range of motion. Doing a proper stretch under load, instead of tapping into the kinetic energy of the negative movement.
And, of course, there is the question of which muscles you actually engage the most.
Down below, you will find a summary I wrote up based on a recent squat study I will make use of for today’s fact-based article.
The available scientific literature shows us that the barbell squat is a very effective exercise for progressive hypertrophy ( and strength ) of the quadriceps. When I say the quadriceps I am, however, mainly talking about the Vastus lateralis, medialis, and intermedius. The rectus femoris responds favorably too, although the hypertrophy response happens at a slightly reduced level when compared to the three vastii muscles ( And let us not forget that the rectus femoris activation and hypertrophic response we see in the leg extension is better…
