How heavy should girls lift to make their leg muscles work hardest?
Effect of external load on muscle activation during the barbell back squat
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
This study looked at how hard different leg muscles work when strong women do back squats with different weights.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 527 / 44
Evidence Score
A snapshot of a population at a single point in time. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine the direction of cause and effect.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
This study looked at how hard different leg muscles work when strong women do back squats with different weights.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 527 / 44
Evidence Score
A snapshot of a population at a single point in time. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine the direction of cause and effect.
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Claims (7)
When women who lift weights do squats with a really heavy weight (close to their max), their leg and butt muscles have to work a lot harder than when they use lighter weights.
When women who lift weights do squats with 80% of their max weight, their butt muscles work way harder compared to their hamstrings — more than with lighter or heavier weights.
When women who lift weights do squats with different levels of heavy weights, the way their thigh and butt muscles work together stays the same — no matter how heavy the weight is.
When women who lift weights do squats with a light weight (about 40% of their max), their butt and hamstring muscles work together in perfect balance as they lower down.
For women who lift weights regularly, squatting with 80% or 90% of your max weight activates your muscles about the same — going heavier doesn’t seem to turn on more muscle once you hit that range.