Really strong hamstrings??

[MadnNatsmom]

Hi Everyone,

When I do MIS or PS Legs, I use 35 lbs for squats and lunges and I am challenged.

However, I have to up my barbell to about 45-50 lbs to feel my hamstrings during the quarter deadlifts. Why are my hamstrings so disproportionately strong?

I thought my form was incorrect, but DH watched me and said my form was fine.

I am a runner - is that a factor?

 

[Aquajock]

I'm not sure quarter deadlifts are an accurate measure of the strength of your hams vs. your quads, because there is far less knee flexion/extension in the deadlift than there is in a standard lunge or squat, which recruit far more of the thigh and glute muscles.

In order to accurately test your relative strength between your quads and your hams, you would probably want to go to the gym and see how much weight you can extend on a knee extension machine, and then see how much weight you can lift on a hamstring curl machine. I believe the ratio of strength between the hams and quads should be about 66% (that is, you should be able to lift about 66% with your hams that you can extend with the quads).

Runners indeed run (pardon the pun) the risk of having overdeveloped hamstring endurance, if not strength, compared to the quads because of the mechanics of running.

Hope this helps -

A-Jock