How To Strengthen Thigh Muscles Video

The large muscles of the thighs, including hamstrings and quads, are important to target when strength training for overall muscle mass. Learn how to do thigh muscle exercises in this strength training video.

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Squats and lunges strengthen thighs
Keep back straight
Keep knees above heels in squats and lunges
Never lean forward during a lunge

About this Author

Tom Clifford has a degree in physical education, fitness and health from Eastern Michigan University, where he ran track and cross-country. Tom has worked as a personal trainer for two years. He also has a separate business where he coaches runners and triathletes for upcoming events. He currently works at Gold's Gym in Wilmington, North Carolina.

TOM CLIFFORD: And now I'm going to demonstrate a few ways to strengthen your thigh muscles, alright? The first way is to do a squat. So we're going to use the smith machine for this exercise. I'm going to unrack the smith machine, put it on the back of my shoulders, not on my neck, start--I'm going to rest it on my shoulders. I'll bring my feet straight out in front me, almost like I'm leaning against the smith machine, leaning against the bar. I'm just going to sit down, straight up, okay. My back is straight, I'm comfortable with the bar on my shoulders, to my shoulders, muscles are supporting the bar, straight down 90 degrees, straight up. That's going to--you're going to feel a burn all throughout your entire quads, alright? So some pointers to remember is to go about 90 degrees down, back straight, alright, arms just wider than your shoulders and you're going to be leaning a little bit against the bar. You don't want your knees to go over your toes. You'll notice my knees are right above my heels, alright? So that's one of the most important things when you're doing squats. Another way to strengthen your thigh muscles after you rack the bar, alright, is lunges, alright? So we'll rack the bar a little higher, alright, foot in front, hands on your hips, shoulders square, shoulders above your hips or--okay, so that basically means your back stays in line, it's a good way to remember it is, shoulders above your hips. Concentrating on bending your back knee, okay, and your front knee stays above your heel and you're going straight up. Front knee above heel, focus on bending your back knee, shoulders above hips, alright? I can't say it enough, got yo keep your shoulders above your hips. Do not lean over, alright? Do not lean over when doing your lunges. You're going to feel this exercise in your hamstrings, your butt and all through your quads, alright? So you're going to get the entire thigh doing the lunges. And those are some exercise to strengthen your thigh muscles.

How to Strengthen Thigh Muscles Video

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