Strength training when you have a natural imbalance in strength

[Anonymous]

I have ridiculously strong hamstrings but very weak quadriceps. I'm in my 50s and for years have just targeted my quads with weightlifting and no weight for my hamstrings, just stretching. But nothing changes. I increase my quad strength some, but if I take more than a few weeks off, I'm back to square one. I am lucky to have no knee or ankle problems even after years of sports and working out, so maybe I just accept it. Does it matter? Anybody have any advice?

[Anonymous]

I am having such a hard time imagining what "ridiculously strong hamstrings" look and feel like!

I don't have advice but have you considered seeing a trainer? There might be specific equipment that can help you isolate the quads more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am having such a hard time imagining what "ridiculously strong hamstrings" look and feel like!

I don't have advice but have you considered seeing a trainer? There might be specific equipment that can help you isolate the quads more.

Thanks, a trainer is my next step, but with all the weight lifters on DCUM, I hoped maybe I could hear from others since it's not something I tell people in real life.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure that your hamstrings are strong? Could they be tight instead, which causes an imbalance in how they work?

I'd go to a pt for an evaluation

[Anonymous]

agree this sounds fishy as I was told more women are likely to have strong 'front sides' instead of back, which is often ignored by exercises (e.g., stronger quadriceps, instead of hamstrings; strong front abs instead of back muscles). I was advised to strive for 'compound' movements which engage multiple portions of the body at one time.

[Anonymous]

Yes, do compound exercises, especially squats and deadlifts. Your ability will be limited by your weakest link, so if you really do have strong hamstrings and weak quads, the quads will be challenged more than hamstrings and should gradually catch up.

[Anonymous]

How did your hamstrings become strong from all that stretching? Sorry, but I doubt your assessment is correct. Just do exercises for both front and back and the quads will gradually get stronger.

[Anonymous]

Look up quad dominant vs hamstring dominant. Most people are quad dominant.

You can be hamstring dominant with flexible hamstrings, though not very likely. Are you very flexible in general.

How much can you deadlift and squat? Is there a huge difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look up quad dominant vs hamstring dominant. Most people are quad dominant.

You can be hamstring dominant with flexible hamstrings, though not very likely. Are you very flexible in general.

How much can you deadlift and squat? Is there a huge difference?

This is OP. I work out on machines since I have had wrist issues the past few years. The leg curl (not sure the name) that works the hamstring I can easily rep on the second to heaviest weight-- not sure how many pounds, but it's more than most men. For my quads, the leg extension machine, I lift at the second lightest. Lighter than the old ladies. I stretch most days and am pretty flexible for my age, but nothing exceptional.

I never thought twice about the imbalance until I started working out with DH recently, and he noticed and commented on it. I am going to google hamstring dominant. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:agree this sounds fishy as I was told more women are likely to have strong 'front sides' instead of back, which is often ignored by exercises (e.g., stronger quadriceps, instead of hamstrings; strong front abs instead of back muscles). I was advised to strive for 'compound' movements which engage multiple portions of the body at one time.

lol, it "sounds fishy" bc you personally were "told" women were "likely"???

i believe you OP

i also have very (naturally?) strong hamstrings. and prob normal quads

not sure why folks think this is so weird.

[Anonymous]

2157pm PP cont - i know about mine from my work on a megaformer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:agree this sounds fishy as I was told more women are likely to have strong 'front sides' instead of back, which is often ignored by exercises (e.g., stronger quadriceps, instead of hamstrings; strong front abs instead of back muscles). I was advised to strive for 'compound' movements which engage multiple portions of the body at one time.

lol, it "sounds fishy" bc you personally were "told" women were "likely"???

i believe you OP

i also have very (naturally?) strong hamstrings. and prob normal quads

not sure why folks think this is so weird.

NP here. I also think this is really weird. The OP said she has spent years(!) working on her quads and not had any progress. That sounds very ridiculous to me. I could see somebody saying I’ve been working on them for a month and not had progress and asking for help, but years?! You don’t find that odd?

I used to have crazy strong hamstrings in my 20s from decades of sprinting I did each week playing soccer. Now 50 myself, I think OP would have to be engaging in sometime of activity that would be keeping her hamstrings so strong.

OP – can you explain more about how you’ve assessed or determine that your hamstrings are so strong and your quads are so weak? Maybe if you give more detail we can give helpful responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:agree this sounds fishy as I was told more women are likely to have strong 'front sides' instead of back, which is often ignored by exercises (e.g., stronger quadriceps, instead of hamstrings; strong front abs instead of back muscles). I was advised to strive for 'compound' movements which engage multiple portions of the body at one time.

lol, it "sounds fishy" bc you personally were "told" women were "likely"???

i believe you OP

i also have very (naturally?) strong hamstrings. and prob normal quads

not sure why folks think this is so weird.

NP here. I also think this is really weird. The OP said she has spent years(!) working on her quads and not had any progress. That sounds very ridiculous to me. I could see somebody saying I’ve been working on them for a month and not had progress and asking for help, but years?! You don’t find that odd?

I used to have crazy strong hamstrings in my 20s from decades of sprinting I did each week playing soccer. Now 50 myself, I think OP would have to be engaging in sometime of activity that would be keeping her hamstrings so strong.

OP – can you explain more about how you’ve assessed or determine that your hamstrings are so strong and your quads are so weak? Maybe if you give more detail we can give helpful responses.

PP- for me it is obvious when using a megaformer. you "think OP would"? is there any reason you would know? physiologist? you think it is more likely that it is made up and she doesnt need the advice, despite another stranger having a similar experience?

[Anonymous]

How much can you front squat and how much can you deadlift?