You don’t have to be told that squats are good for you, but you may not realize how many benefits they offer. Squatting is something we do every day, like when we bend over to pick up a book or sit on the toilet.
Whether they are a Zercher squat, back squat, or front squat, they burn a lot of calories and increase quad and glute muscle mass. They also boost production of hormones that build muscles.
Squats Develop Bigger, Stronger Leg Muscles:
This is probably not a big surprise. The squat, after all, is a movement focused on the legs that requires you to use your lower body muscles in conjunction. The squat strengthens the major leg muscles.
Glutes: The gluteus maximus, and the medius, together, make up the largest muscles in the body. They are responsible for most of our power. Squatting can help strengthen your glutes, which is crucial because stronger glutes are important for lower body stability and strength.
Quads: The quad muscles — vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius and the rectus fermoris protect the knee and support leg extension. Research suggests that a full range of motion is necessary to stimulate quad growth even at low intensities. You don’t need to squat heavily to build muscle mass. But you should squat through the entire range of motion.
Hamstrings: The hamstrings are made up of semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps fermoris. They flex the leg when exercising, walking, running, or jogging. Hamstrings are also important for our ability to jump.
Calves: The soleus and the gastrocnemius are the muscles that make up your calves. These muscles allow us to move faster, improve ankle stability and support correct lower extremity mechanics. Strong calves improve ankle strength, as well as our ability to generate power and absorb it through the ground while jumping, lifting, and running. Squatting allows our calves to move through a wider range of motion than static calf exercises.
Higher Vertical:
Jumping ability is improved by squats. How? We’re able to produce more power by strengthening our lower extremities (stronger, better-conditioned muscles equal better power output).
Improved Core Strength:
In this case, the entire torso is referred to as the core and not just the abdominals. The body must work hard to stay stable when you are moving through different planes of movement and holding weight. The core is strengthened as a result. This includes the lower back, the inner spinal stabilizers, the abdominal muscles, mid back, and the obliques.
