Fitness Volt
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Strongman
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Exercise Guides
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
  • Nutrition
    • Supplements
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Food Facts
  • Reviews
  • More
    • CrossFit
    • News
      • Arnold Classic
      • Mr. Olympia
      • Results
      • 2022 WSM
    • Fitness Calculator
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Strongman
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Exercise Guides
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
  • Nutrition
    • Supplements
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Food Facts
  • Reviews
  • More
    • CrossFit
    • News
      • Arnold Classic
      • Mr. Olympia
      • Results
      • 2022 WSM
    • Fitness Calculator
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
No Result
View All Result
Workout Plans
Fact Checked
Fact Checked
This article was written by one of our qualified writers, and fact-checked by our experts. The numbers in parentheses (e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc.) throughout the article, are reference links to peer-reviewed studies.
Our team of experts include a board-certified physician, nutritionists, dietitians, certified personal trainers, strength training experts, and exercise specialists.
Read Our Editorial Process

7 Powerful Lower Body Strength Routines

Are you bored with your usual leg workout? Are you stuck in a lower body training rut? Whatever your fitness goal is, we’ve got new and powerful leg routines for you to try!
Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine

Written by Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine

Last Updated onJanuary 27, 2021

Lower Body Strength Routines

Lower Body Strength Routines

Old-school bodybuilders had a saying – you can’t fire a cannon out of a canoe. In other words, it doesn’t matter how big, or strong your upper body is; you need an equally well-developed lower body too. An underdeveloped lower body unbalances your physique and will also affect your athletic performance.

Unfortunately, leg training is HARD, and you’ll need more than just a few sets of leg presses and leg extensions to build an impressive lower body. Instead, you need to dedicate at least one training session per week to working your legs, and you’ll need to hit them with plenty of volume and intensity too.

While there is nothing to stop you from building your own workout plan and slotting it into your usual weekly training split, you’ll probably get better results if you follow a workout designed for you. After all, when you plan your own workouts, it’s all too easy to gravitate toward exercises you know and like, and away from the hard work you really need to do.

In this article, we’ve got 7 new powerful lower body strength training routines for you to try. Use each one for 6-8 weeks to keep your training productive and interesting.

Table of Contents Hide
  • Lower Body Anatomy
    • Quadriceps:
    • Hamstrings:
    • Gluteus maximus:
    • Adductors:
    • Abductors:
    • Triceps surae:
  • General Workout Guidelines
    • 1. Adapt your workout to your training goal
    • 2. Never neglect your warm-up
    • 3. Good form, always
    • 4. Practice proper progression
    • 5. Don’t forget rest and recovery
    • 6. Eat for your goals
  • Routine 1 – Machines Only Bodybuilding Program
  • Routine 2 – Power Building Program
  • Routine 3 – Bodyweight-only Leg Program
  • Routine 4 – Lower Body Superset Program
  • Program 5 – Free weight only Leg Program
  • Routine 6 – Freaky Functional Leg Program
  • Routine 7 – The Kitchen Sink Program
    • Wrapping Up

Lower Body Anatomy

While you don’t need to know the names and functions of all your leg muscles to have a good workout, a basic understanding of anatomy and physiology is often useful. That way, you’ll be able to see what makes our workouts so effective. You’ll also be able to dazzle your training buddies with your newfound anatomical knowledge.

Lower Body Muscle

To that end, a good lower body workout should include the following muscles:

Quadriceps: 

Located on the front of your thighs, the quadriceps or quads for short are made up of four muscles. These muscles have different origin points and then come together at a common tendon and insertion point just below your knee. The quadriceps muscles extend your knee and flex your hip, and are the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius.

Hamstrings: 

The hamstrings are located on the back of your thigh. They flex your knees and extend your hip. They’re made up of three muscles, the biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus.

Gluteus maximus: 

Known as the glutes for short, this is the largest and potentially most powerful muscle in the human body. Located on the back of your hips, its primary role is hip extension, and it also plays a part in the external rotation of the femur. Along with the hamstrings, the glutes are part of your posterior chain, which is a group of muscles that are crucial for athletic performance and posture.

Adductors: 

The collective name for the muscles on the inside of your thigh. The adductors draw your leg in toward the midline of your body. The three muscles are the adductor longus, brevis, and magnus, and gracilis.

Abductors: 

Located on the outside of your hips and thighs, the abductors lift your leg up and out to the side. The main muscles in this group are the gluteus minimus and medius and tensor fascia latae (TFL).

Triceps surae:

Triceps surae is the collective term for the two calf muscles – the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Both of these muscles extend (plantarflex) your ankles, while the gastrocnemius is also involved in knee flexion. The gastrocnemius is most active when your knee is straight. Bending your knee increases soleus activation.

Triceps surae

While there are lots of additional lower body muscles, these are the ones that contribute the most to the size and strength of your lower body. A workout that involves all of these muscles should produce good results.

General Workout Guidelines

Get the most from the following workouts by using these guidelines.

1. Adapt your workout to your training goal

You can modify most of the following workouts to suit a range of training goals. The accepted rep ranges, weights, and rest periods for the different training goals are:

  Strength/Power Hypertrophy Endurance
Weight
(% 1RM)
85+ 67-85 60-67
Reps 1-5 6-12 13-20+
Rest between sets 3-5 minutes 1-2 minutes 30-60 seconds

2. Never neglect your warm-up

A good warm-up should help protect you from injury AND improve your workout performance. Get your muscles and joints ready to train by doing 5-10 minutes of easy cardio and some dynamic stretching and mobility exercises.

Finish off with 2-3 sets of the main exercises in the workout you are about to do, using progressively heavier weights.

3. Good form, always

Bad Deadlift

There are two ways to do most exercises; the RIGHT way and the WRONG way. The right way keeps the mechanical tension on the muscles you want to develop, while the wrong way increases your risk of injury.

Learn how to do the exercises in your workouts correctly, both for better gains and fewer aches and pains.

4. Practice proper progression

You are only as strong as your last workout, and if you do the same exercises with the same weights for the same number of reps more than a couple of times, your progress will soon stall.

Avoid workout ruts by:

  1. Doing more reps with the same weight
  2. Doing the same number of reps with more weight
  3. Taking shorter rests between sets
  4. Decreasing your tempo for more time under tension
  5. Doing more sets
  6. Changing to a new workout

You can read more about modifying exercises and workouts to make them more challenging in this in-depth guide.

5. Don’t forget rest and recovery

Arnold Resting

Strength training is catabolic. That means it causes muscle breakdown. Given adequate time between workouts, your muscles will grow back bigger and stronger. You can speed up your progress by paying more attention to rest and recovery.

This may also include periodic breaks from training, a process called deloading. If you are training hard but still aren’t making progress, you may need to spend more time on recovery.

6. Eat for your goals

Phil Heath Eating

What training takes out of your body, rest, recovery, and nutrition put back in. Your diet should match your training goals. For example, if you want to get lean, you may need to consume fewer calories.

But, if you are bulking, you need to eat more food. Adjust your diet based according to what you want to achieve from your workouts.

Routine 1 – Machines Only Bodybuilding Program

Training Machine Squat

A lot of fitness trainers are very down on strength training machines. They say that machines aren’t functional and that they don’t transfer well to life outside the gym. While those criticisms may be valid, machines aren’t inherently bad and can actually be very useful for building muscle.

When you train using machines, all you need to do is focus on lifting and lowering the weight. Very little balance is required, and that means you can concentrate on the muscles you are training. As an added benefit, you can usually train to failure in relative safety.

This workout uses nothing but resistance training machines, making it ideal for building lower body muscle size.

Program 1 – Machines Only Bodybuilding Program
  Exercise Sets Reps Recovery
1 Smith machine squats 5 8 90 seconds
2 Cable pull-throughs 4 12 60 seconds
3 Leg presses 4 10 90 seconds
4 Leg curls 3 12 60 seconds
5 Seated calf raises 3 10 60 seconds
6 Standing calf raises 3 10 60 seconds

Routine 2 – Power Building Program

Eddie Hall And Larry Wheels

This big-but-basic workout is designed to build muscle strength and size. It combines elements of powerlifting and bodybuilding – a training style called powerbuilding. If you want to be big AND strong, this could be the workout for you.

Program 2 – Powerbuilding Program
  Exercise Sets Reps Recovery
1 Barbell back squats 5 5 2-3 minutes
2 Leg press 3 8 90 seconds
3 Leg extensions 3 12 60 seconds
4 Rack pulls 5 5 2-3 minutes
5 Leg curls 3 12 60 seconds
6 Standing calf raises 4 12 60 seconds

Routine 3 – Bodyweight-only Leg Program

Lunges

Are you stuck at home with no training equipment? Don’t worry; you can still train your legs. You might not build bar-bending strength or massive muscles with this workout, but you should be able to preserve your gains until you can get back in the gym. This is a good workout for muscular endurance and fat burning.

Make it harder by using blood flow restriction (BFR) training cuffs.  

Program 3 – Bodyweight-only Leg Program
  Exercise Sets Reps Recovery
1 Prisoner squats 3 20 60 seconds
2 Hip thrusts 3 15 60 seconds
3 Lunges   3 12 per leg 60 seconds
4 Single-leg Romanian deadlifts    3 10 per leg 60 seconds
5 Bulgarian split squats 3 10 per leg 60 seconds
6 Standing calf raises 3 15 60 seconds

 

Routine 4 – Lower Body Superset Program

Leg Extension

Supersets are a type of training system. With supersets, you do two exercises back to back, indicated as a) and b) exercises in the plan below.  This cuts down on recovery time and increases time under tension and workout density, making for a shorter but more intense training session. There are several different types of supersets, including pre and post-exhaust and agonist/antagonist supersets.

To perform a superset, do the first exercise (a) and then immediately do the second exercise (b). Rest for the designated time and then repeat the pairing. 

Program 4 – Lower Body Superset Program
  Exercise Sets Reps Recovery
1a Leg extensions   4 12 90 seconds
1b Goblet squats
2a Leg curls 4 12 90 seconds
2b Romanian deadlifts   
3a Step-ups with dumbbells 3 10 per leg 60 seconds
3b Reverse dumbbell lunges
4a Seated calf raises   3 15 60 seconds
4b Standing calf raises

Read more about supersets in this detailed guide.

Program 5 – Free weight only Leg Program

Leg curls

If you train in a garage gym, you may not have access to things like leg extension or leg press machines. The good news is that you can still build impressively strong, powerful legs. After all, old-school bodybuilders only had access to free weights and rudimentary machines, and they managed to create incredible physiques, so you can do it too.

All you need for this workout is a barbell, some dumbbells, and a willingness to work your butt off!

Program 5 – Free weight-only Leg Program
  Exercise Sets Reps Recovery
1 Front squats 4 8 90 seconds
2 Romanian deadlifts   4 8 90 seconds
3 Dumbbell lunges 3 12 per leg 60 seconds
4 Dumbbell leg curls     3 12 60 seconds
5 Sissy squats 2 15 60 seconds
6 Single-leg calf raises   3 12 per leg 60 seconds

 

Routine 6 – Freaky Functional Leg Program

Box Jumps

This next workout uses some unusual exercises to work your muscles from a host of different angles. If you work hard, you’ll still get bigger and stronger, but you’ll also improve things like mobility, balance, and coordination.

These exercises are technically demanding, so start light and increase your weights only if you can perform them correctly.

Program 6 – Freaky Functional Leg Program
  Exercise Sets Reps Recovery
1 Overhead squats 4 10 90 seconds
2 Walking dumbbell lunges 4 12 per leg 60 seconds
3 Zercher good mornings 3 10 60 seconds
4 Lateral dumbbell lunges 3 12 per leg 60 seconds
5 Box jumps 3 15 60 seconds
6 Single-leg calf raises 3 12 per leg 60 seconds

 

Routine 7 – The Kitchen Sink Program

Seated Calf Raise

Variety, they say, is the spice of life. Instead of doing several sets of a select number of exercises, this workout involves doing just one set of a longer list of movements.

The volume is more-or-less the same as the previous workouts, but you’ll be hitting your muscles from lots of different angles. If you get bored doing the same exercises over and over again, this is the workout for you!

Program 6 – The Kitchen Sink Program
  Exercise Sets Reps Recovery
1 Back squats 1 5 2 minutes
2 Leg press 1 8 90 seconds
3 Leg curls 1 12 60 seconds
4 Step-ups with dumbbells 1 15 per leg 60 seconds
5 Deadlifts 1 5 2 minutes
6 Smith machine squats 1 8 90 seconds
7 Leg extensions 1 12 60 seconds
8 Seated calf raises 1 15 60 seconds
9 Front squats 1 5 2 minutes
10 Romanian deadlifts 1 8 90 seconds
11 Split squats 1 12 per leg 60 seconds
12 Squat jumps 1 15 60 seconds
13 Hang cleans 1 5 2 minutes
14 Bulgarian split squats 1 8 per leg 90 seconds
15 Dumbbell lunges 1 12 per leg 60 seconds
16 Standing calf raises 1 15 60 seconds
17 Sumo deadlift 1 5 2 minutes
18 Zercher squats 1 8 90 seconds
19 Hip thrusts 1 12 60 seconds
20 Box jumps 1 15 60 seconds

Wrapping Up

Lower body training is almost always hard, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be boring or repetitive. You could use the Weider Instinctive Method to keep your workouts varied and interesting, but you’ll probably get better results from a more structured lower body training program.

Try one of our seven tried and tested lower body strength training routines. You’ll soon be on your way to building legs you can be proud of!

Stay on top of the latest fitness news and updates by adding Fitness Volt to your Google News feed: Follow us on Google News You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for even more content.
Facebook Twitter Reddit Flipboard LinkedIn
Categories: Bodybuilding Program Programs Training Workout Plans Workouts
Previous Post

17 Strongest Pre-Workouts for 2023 Reviewed & Ranked

Next Post

12 Best Treadmills For Walking Reviewed For 2022

Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine

Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine

Patrick Dale is an ex-British Royal Marine, gym owner, and fitness qualifications tutor and assessor. In addition, Patrick is a freelance writer who has authored three fitness and exercise books, dozens of e-books, thousands of articles, and several fitness videos. He’s not just an armchair fitness expert; Patrick practices what he preaches! He has competed at a high level in numerous sports, including rugby, triathlon, rock climbing, trampolining, powerlifting, and, most recently, stand up paddleboarding. When not lecturing, training, researching, or writing, Patrick is busy enjoying the sunny climate of Cyprus, where he has lived for the last 20-years.

Related

Smith Machine Leg Exercises

12 Best Smith Machine Leg Exercises + Workouts

If there is one training machine that’s guaranteed to cause an argument, it’s the Smith machine. Almost every gym has...

Exercises Per Muscle

How Many Exercises Per Muscle – A New Perspective

Except for workout minimalists, most lifters train their muscles with multiple exercises. They combine compound and isolation exercises and different...

Mitchell Hooper

Strongman Mitchell Hooper Crushes 770-kg (1,697.6-lb) Raw Leg Press For 8 Reps Ahead of 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic

As a young prospect in the world of strongman, Mitchell Hooper is currently eager to present himself in the best...

Hack Squat vs. Leg Press

Hack Squat vs. Leg Press: Which Exercise is Safer for Your Knees and Offers the Most Benefits?

Many people start lifting because of body-image issues and a lack of self-confidence. Legs are a touchy-feely subject for most...

Flex Wheeler Inspiring Leg Workout

57-yo Flex Wheeler Inspires With Leg Press Workout Using Prosthetic Leg

Flex Wheeler powered through numerous obstacles while leaving his mark on the sport. In a recent post made on Instagram,...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest

Jai Courtney’s Terminator: Genisys Workout and Diet Routine

Six Different Bench Press Grips to Try

Powerlifter Phillip Herndon (125KG) Cracks 411-kg (906.1-lb) Raw Squat All-Time World Record

Larry Wheels Shares Ripped Physique Update Ahead of Anticipated Classic Physique Debut

Lee Haney Shares Crucial Advice for Bodybuilders: ‘You Got to Be Careful of What You Hear’

9 Best Pre-Workout Supplement Alternatives: Get Jacked Without the Powder

Reviews

Ancheer Treadmills Review

6 Best Ancheer Treadmills in 2023 (Review & Ranked)

Best Bone Broth Supplements

10 Best Bone Broth Supplements of 2023 (Reviewed & Ranked)

Body Fortress Whey Protein Review

Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein Review

Fitness Volt

At FitnessVolt.com Our mission is to help our readers to achieve their fitness goals, regardless of where you’re at on your journey, we are on a mission to educate You with the latest from strength and fitness space. Read more.

Email: sm(at)fitnessvolt.com

Disclosure: FitnessVolt.com has an affiliate relationship with different brands and is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. However, our reviews are based on well research backed analysis.

Follow Us

Trending Topics

  • Mr. Olympia
  • Bodybuilding
  • Strongman
  • Powerlifting
  • CrossFit
  • At Home Workouts
  • Bodyweight Exercises
  • Best Pre-workout
  • Best Fat Burners
  • Bodybuilding Diet
  • Bicep Workouts
  • Triceps Workouts
  • Chest Exercises
  • Back Workouts
  • Leg Workouts
  • Front Squat Guide
  • Calf Workouts & Exercises
  • Forgotten Exercises
  • Jefferson Deadlift

Calculators

  • Calorie Burning Calculators
  • IF Calculator
  • TDEE Calculator
  • Calorie Calculator
  • Keto Calculator
  • RMR Calculator
  • Macronutrient Calculator
  • Creatine Calculator
  • Wilks Calculator
  • EER Calculator
  • FFMI Calculator
  • IBW Calculator
  • LBM Calculator
  • Fat Intake Calculator
  • Calories Burned Swimming
  • Calories Per Meal Calculator

  • Food Nutrition Analysis
  • Carb Cycling Calculator
  • Weight Gain Calculator
  • Weight Loss Calculator
  • Calories Burned Calculator
  • Strength Standards
  • One Rep Max Calculator
  • Body Fat Calculator
  • EER Calculator
  • Weight Loss Percentage
  • Treadmill Calorie Calculator
  • Body Surface Area Calculator
  • Running Pace Calculator
  • Bench Press Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Water Intake Calculator
  • Body Type Quiz
  • Steps to Miles Calculator
  • Calorie Deficit Calculator
  • Home
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Accessibility
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Syndication
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Copyrights
  • Terms
  • Privacy

© Copyright 2010 - 2022 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Bodybuilding
  • Arnold Classic
  • Powerlifting
  • Strongman
  • CrossFit
  • Workouts
  • Exercise Guides
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Shoulders
  • Training
  • Nutrition
  • Reviews
  • More
    • News
    • Mr. Olympia
    • 2022 WSM
    • Diet
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • Food Facts
    • Fitness Calculator

© Copyright 2010 - 2022 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.