Is there such thing as quad activation?

[Inatic]

There's glute/hams activation, how about quad?

I need to wake up these quads that dont fire. :sighIm working on correcting the problem with ART doc but in the mean time?

[TheDeliverator]

Buy tighter gear.

Er...wrong forum.

[Blondell]

Buy tighter gear.

Er...wrong forum.
:bitch:

[TheDeliverator]

:buddies:

[smuggie]

Buy tighter gear.

Er...wrong forum.
:lol3:

[TheDeliverator]

I had to get out my anatomy book and look up "quad" in the index.

We don't train those.

[Built]

I'm really glad you asked this Ileen, my sister-in-quad-inactivation.

The only leg work that consistently nails my quads are front squats, sissy squats, low foot placement leg press, and leg extensions.

I'm searching for unilateral work that will torch my quads, but so far, it eludes me.

[TheDeliverator]

There's glute/hams activation, how about quad?

I need to wake up these quads that dont fire. :sighIm working on correcting the problem with ART doc but in the mean time?

On a serious note, how do you know they aren't "firing"?

[Built]

Well, for me anyway, quad development is lagging, and movements that are supposed to target quads leave me with glute doms rather than quad doms (if I get any at all).

I can tell when my quads are flexing. And with a Bulgarian, they just ain't - not much, anyway.

[Erik]

I can tell when my quads are flexing. And with a Bulgarian, they just ain't - not much, anyway.

Huh? They can't NOT be flexing. :confused:

[TheDeliverator]

Huh? They can't NOT be flexing. :confused:

That's what I was thinking.

Soreness isn't an indicator of, well, anything too useful, and it sure isn't an indicator of whether a muscle is being developed or not.

While it may be true that your quads are lacking, you'd be hard pressed to prove that it's a lack of muscular firing that is causing the problem.

If you quad wasn't actually firing, you'd know. A lot of things wouldn't work too well...like walking, or skipping, or sleeping.

[Built]

I don't get it either. But I feel them mostly in my glutes.

[Lynny]

Dude....Bulgarians activate EVERYTHING below the equator. At least on me, they do. :lol:

[Built]

I just don't get it... <shakes head, wanders off, glutes a firing...>

[Erik]

You won't really see quads that shut-down on stuff unless there is a specific nerve problem.

If the hams and glutes are just that much stronger, get a sled and start doing reverse sled drags. Front squats with the heels slightly elevated (or, better yet, in Olympic lifting shoes) would also be good.

Note - I asked EC about this issue.

[Jeff Rage]

I'm so used to seeing people (usually pl) trying to limit the use of Quads, especially in Squats.

What hits my Quads most is Leg Presses with a very low foot placement. Not sure if that would help with activating them, though.

[Patricia]

Dude....Bulgarians activate EVERYTHING below the equator. At least on me, they do. :lol:
Me too.

[Inatic]

Ah MA my sistah! :hug:


On a serious note, how do you know they aren't "firing"?

Del, im going based on what ART doc says and How I feel when Im training. I do realize soreness isnt a judge of how well a session went.

The only time i feel my quads tiring when training is when i do leg extensions. They arent a part of our program and my Knee (IT) hates them even on the upper 1/3 portion of the movement. My back doesnt like the hipsled/leg press either especially when i go heavy (work with previous trainer).

Here is a snippet of DR's diagnosis.

Severly tight hipflexors were also an issue at one pt.


Her previous back injury was b/c the erectors were overfiring and abs/glutes were inhibited. Now that the glutes are firing, they are playing "catch up" to where they should have been. I feel that the knee pain is coupled with weak upper quads.

Ileen's right leg is externally rotated (IT band overpowering medial adductors/hamstrings) and her ribcage is too far forward in relation to her pelvis during squats and lunges. This forces more weight on the glutes and lower/outer quads. When she shifts her ribcage posterior - over her pelvic girdle, more emphasis is put on the upper quad/medial adductors and hams, and weight is distributed more evenly between both feet. This should should start activating the medial add/hams/upper quads and equalize her center of gravity.

Thank you Erik for looking into . :)

What is a reverse sled drag? :uhuh:

Would isolation stuff like split squats and Bg's also have the same effect with heel slightly elevated?

I asked ART doc again about it this morning, she told me not to stress about it. In time, it will come. Said to be patient. :uhuh:

[Built]

Be patient.

I've been training for five years, and I'm getting old. I don't think these people understand our physique goals.

Now the bulgarians with the heel elevated is a VERY interesting thought!

I'm fine with front squats - they hit the quads just great already. I've actually tried split squats with a front-squat bar placement and those helped a bit (but a real bugger to hold the bar out front!).

The heel elevation is a very interesting thought! I'm a try that!

[Inatic]

Im older than you. :(


The heel elevation is a very interesting thought! I'm a try that!

Erik, is that an option for me on a full squat?

[smuggie]

What is a reverse sled drag? :uhuh:
http://www.weighttrainersunited.com/sled.html

[Built]

Thanks smuggie!

[Inatic]

thanks Mo!


http://www.weighttrainersunited.com/sled.html

looks archaic :lol:

can i drag my bum backwards on a tready instead.

[Built]

Maybe just pull a reluctant child to bed.

[Inatic]

Maybe just pull a reluctant child to bed.

lol. I already do that every night ;)

[Ali]

Maybe just pull a reluctant child to bed.

Dragging kids uphill on sled. :nod:

[Inatic]

Dragging kids uphill on sled. :nod:

can ya send some snow. :( It was 65 here today.

Maybe in a wagon, but no one here is under 70lbs. That would kill my back.

[Built]

Dragging kids uphill on sled. :nod:

Finally, I have Ali's secret: children-wrangling!

It really works for you babe!


lol. I already do that every night ;)

Do it earlier and earlier every time. Yanno, progressive resistance ...

[Erik]

thanks Mo!



looks archaic :lol:

can i drag my bum backwards on a tready instead.

Not the same thing.

[smuggie]

Not the same thing.
Oh? Then what is it then?

[Erik]

Oh? Then what is it then?

You're telling me that walking backwards on a treadmill is the same thing as sled dragging? :blink:

[Built]

You're telling me that walking backwards on a treadmill is the same thing as sled dragging? :blink:

I think Ileen was suggesting dragging her bum on it, not walking backward.

[smuggie]

You're telling me that walking backwards on a treadmill is the same thing as sled dragging? :blink:
LOL I just realized you were speaking to Ileen before, not me.

Don't mind me. I'm confused tonight. :lol3: :oops: :wavesad: