Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Muscles that Move the Leg01:23

Muscles that Move the Leg

1.8K
The movement of the legs is facilitated by numerous muscles located within the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments of the thigh.
Anterior Compartment
The quadriceps femoris, the most visible muscle of the anterior compartment, is integral for leg extension and thigh flexion. It is formed by merging four distinct muscles — the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon, a shared tendon of the four quadriceps muscles, is affixed...
1.8K
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella01:16

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

2.5K
The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the...
2.5K
Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes01:28

Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes

1.5K
The human leg comprises an intricate system of muscles that facilitate the movement of feet and toes. Within this system, the muscles are categorized into the anterior, lateral, and posterior compartments, each with a unique set of muscles carrying out specific functions.
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment includes muscles that contribute to the dorsiflexion of the foot. This compartment houses the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles....
1.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comparative Effects of Land-Based and Aquatic Physiotherapy on Functional and Neuromuscular Outcomes in the Rigid-Akinetic Subtype of Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy·2026
Same author

No Differences in Muscular Adaptations to Long-Term Resistance Training Between Young Strict Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Women.

Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2026
Same author

The Effect of Fatiguing Exercise on Biceps Femoris Fascicle Behaviors During Maximal Isokinetic Contractions.

Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2025
Same author

Longitudinal Development of Physical Fitness in Young Football Players: A Bayesian Analysis.

Research quarterly for exercise and sport·2025
Same author

Sex Differences in Upper- and Lower-Limb Muscle Strength in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis.

European journal of sport science·2025
Same author

International consensus on the definition of functional training: Modified e-Delphi method.

Journal of sports sciences·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
07:30

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Published on: May 1, 2018

15.4K

Hamstring-to-quadriceps activation ratio during lower-limb strengthening exercises.

Filipe Veeck1, Jonathas Stoll de Vargas1, Rúbia Anelise Trabach Godinho1

  • 1Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Research in Sports Medicine (Print)
|November 25, 2023
PubMed
Summary

The lying leg curl exercise maximizes hamstring activation and the hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) EMG ratio, promoting better knee muscle balance. This exercise is recommended for rehabilitation and training to improve muscle symmetry.

Keywords:
Injury preventionmuscle activationmuscle strength imbalancestrength trainingsurface electromyography

More Related Videos

Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study
08:40

Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study

Published on: November 11, 2022

1.2K
Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis of Healthy Participants
06:36

Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis of Healthy Participants

Published on: April 15, 2020

9.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
07:30

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Published on: May 1, 2018

15.4K
Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study
08:40

Quantifying Arms and Legs Contributions during Repetitive Electrically-Assisted Sit-To-Stand Exercise in Paraplegics: A Pilot Study

Published on: November 11, 2022

1.2K
Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis of Healthy Participants
06:36

Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis of Healthy Participants

Published on: April 15, 2020

9.1K

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Sports Science

Background:

  • Strength training often overemphasizes quadriceps activation over hamstring activation.
  • This imbalance can lead to detrimental knee joint instability and potential injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) surface electromyography (sEMG) activation ratio.
  • To evaluate the lateral to medial hamstring activation ratio (LH:MH) across various strength exercises.
  • To identify exercises that promote balanced hamstring and quadriceps engagement.

Main Methods:

  • Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure muscle activation.
  • Key exercises analyzed included parallel squat, Romanian deadlift, hip thrust, lying leg curl, and seated knee extension.
  • H:Q EMG and LH:MH ratios were calculated during concentric and eccentric phases.

Main Results:

  • The lying leg curl demonstrated the highest H:Q EMG ratio during both concentric and eccentric phases.
  • Romanian deadlift and hip thrust also showed relatively high H:Q EMG ratios.
  • The parallel squat exhibited a greater LH:MH ratio compared to the Romanian deadlift and hip thrust.

Conclusions:

  • The lying leg curl is optimal for increasing hamstring activation and the H:Q EMG ratio.
  • This exercise also provides a more homogenous LH:MH, suggesting balanced hamstring activation.
  • The lying leg curl is recommended for rehabilitation and training to enhance knee muscle balance.