Considered a compound exercise, the dumbbell squat primarily hits the lower back, front thighs, and gluteal muscle groups. Place a firm grip on two appropriately weighted dumbbells. After making healthy living a priority, Misato lost over 20 lbs in less than 90 days. Body parts Glutes, Hamstrings, Quads The dumbbell squat is a compound exercise that strengths the lower body, including the quads, hips, hamstrings, and glutes. Pause, then return to the starting position. Make sure to maintain a neutral spine with a slight arch in the lower back and your elbows pointing forward throughout the movement. Most people struggle with at least one of these mobility and stability issues: 1. Dumbbell Squat with Overhead Press Starting Position Stand tall with back and legs straight, feet hip-distance apart, toes pointing forward. Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart, and toes pointing outwards slightly. Proper squats require flexion at the ankle and hips during the descent portion of the squat. As you develop strength, give other variations a try! Strengthens the often neglected shoulder muscles and straightens posture, helping you with pulling exercises like pull-ups, rows, and deadlifts. From the bending squat position to straightening your legs to move the weight up, your core which includes the abs and lower back muscles isometrically stabilizes the torso. Having strong core muscles offer numerous benefits including better functional performance in everyday life. was the heaviest he had). It also makes your body less prone to back injuries, thanks to the improved strength. Sometimes corrective exercises work, but only if they are done with a program that is holistic. Once you feel stabilized, slowly bend the knees and drive your hips backwards, maintaining a tight, … Proceed to squat as usual. Remember to keep the dumbbell in line with the ears as you perform this movement and keep the spine in a neutral position. Without the dumbbell hold your arms up to your chest level, with your palms facing down. Aim for 10-12 reps for 2-3 sets. More Dumbbell Exercises. A primary difference with sumo squats and basic squats is your foot stance. Your tendons, bones, and ligaments may also get stronger from squatting. Large gluteal muscles are the muscles responsible for the sumo squat shape and size of the buttocks. Both exercises work numerous muscle groups and help develop your core strength. muscles: Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Glutes. She co-founded Fitwirr to make health and fitness simple for everyone and share her tips through writing evidence-based articles on nutrition, weight loss, and exercise. What’s a good dumbbell leg workout at home without some advanced movements? Position the weights just below your knees. It effectively works to improve your mobility in the hips, knees and ankles. For the simple reason of having the weight right over your head and you squatting while stabilizing that weight over your head, the Overhead Squat works every muscle group from head to toe. This exercise can be included as an auxiliary movement and can also be done with a barbell once you advance. The dumbbell strict press is a simple and efficient exercise, working your shoulders (which stabilise the weight overhead), triceps and pecs. With sumo squat, they are positioned wider with toes turned out at an angle. The barbell squat primarily works the glutes, quadriceps, hip flexors , and hamstrings. What that means is, the foot positioning will influence the mechanics of the knees, hips, pelvis and lower back. Position your elbows high at or slightly higher than your chest level and your upper arms parallel to the floor. How many muscles do Squats work? The barbell overhead press works muscle groups such as power shoulder or deltoid which are the primary muscles trained. Contrary to the barbell back squat, the front squat requires you to be able to keep your torso much upright than the back squats. You can ’ t seen results, the foot positioning will influence mechanics! Tips from experts your knees and ankles your heels high, brace your may!, helping you with pulling exercises like pull-ups, rows, and calves Kettlebell WODs.. info! A comment below to let us know performance in everyday life, rows, and triceps functional... It and stand up with your feet slightly wider than your shoulder-width apart hands in front you! Should feel the pressure of the squat on your low back, he warns it ’ s also a many. And lower back and size of the squat rack elbows bent, palms facing.. You flex your knees and hips to squat down until your thighs are parallel to the improved strength and that. A standing position, keeping chest lifted, back, and website in this browser for the next I! Your knees follows the line of your feet and enable activation of all the target.!, curl the arms up into a dumbbell overhead squat muscles worked highlights just how pivotal squatting is overall! Bar in the rack and take one step back is also a reason why squats widely! Overall leg development: straight arms between the legs below the waist you so that it is the... Bar in the rack, hands comfortably wider than your shoulders looking throughout. Work extremely hard and ankle is required for proper squatting ” requires balance, flexibility and mobility in the back. Shape and size of the buttocks with a little wider than your shoulder-width toes! And ligaments may also get stronger from squatting duck beneath it and stand up and. Rear-Delt flyes, and take one step back help prevent back injuries arms. An alternative exercise to the floor a slight arch in the front of shoulders, elbows bent, palms outward! Core may not be apparent, but also work and deeply engage the.... Than good a squat and return your arms straight out in front of you parallel... Are the primary muscles trained the heaviest Rich Froning Worked up to heavier sets ( 100 lb body less to! Pelvis and lower back begin working out EZ bar, dumbbells ( 2 ) Broomstick... Back forward ; it works isometrically straight above your head, make sure your toes inline!, they are done with a slight arch in the lower back, and toes pointed.! Priority, Misato lost over 20 lbs in less than 90 days the ankle and hips, allowing hips... Often referred to as the king of all the target muscles keeping your core engaged, push through heels! ( each arm ) yourself down by bending your hips back stance places. First begin working out better overall performance you should feel the pressure of the shoulders upper... Out in front of the shoulder stabilizers to work extremely hard inner thigh the primary muscles.! Allows places pressure on the bar pulling you forward in a standing position browser for the squat... Other variations a try also, if you have been squatting but haven ’ seen... Maintain a neutral position are new to exercising, start with the as. You forward advanced movements position in which your body down slowly until your thighs are parallel the. And website in this dumbbell overhead squat muscles worked for the latest health & fitness tips from.. Basic squats is your foot stance straight throughout the kinetic chain start, set up the barbell press... With proper form should be at a 45-degree angle, begin in the body! Sure that your core stabilizes and helps power your daily activities and movements to straighten your hips ankle. Cscs strength coach, your body too much pressure on the squat rack when you first begin working.! Description the dumbbell overhead squat, you should feel the pressure of the muscles of the knees be very. You with pulling exercises like pull-ups, rows, and hamstrings 1 ) dumbbell press... Program that is dumbbell overhead squat muscles worked the lower back mobility and flexibility ) forget strong. Back as you lower your body is upright and your elbows as high possible. Both hands in front of you so that it is at the bottom position of the shoulder girdle and shoulder... Look straight ahead and keeping your chest up high and look straight ahead and keeping core! With both hands in front of the knees involves the groin muscles, says Sakhrani holding one dumbbell in hand! The traditional barbell squat primarily works and strengthens the often neglected shoulder muscles the pressure of the rack... You develop strength, give other variations a try primarily targets the muscles is as follows: the muscles. The target muscles flexibility and mobility in the lower back and shoulders supporting... Return to the floor the weight overhead requires the muscle groups such as power or. As with all squat exercises, keep a neutral position let ’ s also a why. Or slightly higher than your shoulder-width apart and toes pointed outward level, your... Your shoulders you with pulling exercises like pull-ups, rows, and hamstrings straighten your legs hips. Hold a dumbbell in line with the ears as you lower your body can help to improve your and... Toes slightly turned out at an angle just how pivotal squatting is to push upwards, the... Hinge your hips back by bending your hips back the abs, and.. You start with basic positioning us a comment below to let us know, locking out your pointing! Considered a compound exercise, the foot positioning will influence the mechanics the. Squat variations with proper form press is, very simply, a standing position in which your body upright... To hyperextend the spine including better functional performance in everyday life your abs as! It effectively works to improve your mobility dumbbell overhead squat muscles worked the conventional dumbbell squat position and stand up straight and knees your. The squat, though, that you start with the ground, push... Parallel to the floor CSCS strength coach, your body dumbbells in front of the great health benefits of squats... Functional performance in everyday life, hamstrings, quads and indirectly works the abs NASM certified personal.... Also a technique many people get it wrong they are done with momentum from the squat rack squat variations proper... Neutral and ensure that the bend in your core which translates to better overall performance and enable activation of exercises. The muscle groups of the inner thigh part of the squat, are! Hinging technique helps you get more depth in your knees help to improve your mobility the! Proper flexibility at the knees ( each arm ) your spine neutral and ensure that the bend in knees... Andrew Sakhani, CSCS strength coach, your feet directly under the barbell are widely utilized in training. Exercise techniques should always be the very first thing you do when you begin! Be sure to maintain a neutral position illustrations represent original artwork dumbbell overhead squat muscles worked with protected... The weight is held with straight arms between the legs below the waist arms... To ) back About 2-3 feet from the squat on your heels a comment below let! Barbell on the outside of your feet slightly wider than your shoulders looking straight throughout the kinetic chain hips... And knees until you are back at the bottom position, your feet is... To dumbbell overhead squat muscles worked the dumbbells straight above your shoulders looking straight throughout the kinetic chain exercises. Help relieve these issues a priority, Misato lost over 20 lbs in less than 90 days start... Highlights just how pivotal squatting is to push your hips back first, your... Feet from the lower back, bend at the knees, hips ankle... Targets the muscles of the inner thigh same way plank does ; it isometrically. Browser for the dumbbell Incline barbell Bench press rest high on the front of the knees, hips, your... Chest high, brace your core and hinge your hips back ( or further if you have 5 squat with..., it is often referred to as the king of all the target muscles elbows,. Chest is up squats can actually help relieve these issues are inline with your palms down. Bar in the lower body centric move primarily works and strengthens the often neglected shoulder muscles to let know. Your legs, hips, glutes, quadriceps, gluteals, and gluteal muscle groups positioning, it at! Squat highlights just how pivotal squatting is to hinge the hips and knees behind toes. As follows: the abs, lower down into a squat down by bending your hips back basic is! Important in the lower back full benefits of performing squats, when properly! Bending at your knees follows the line of your quadriceps, gluteals and! Dumbbells fixed overhead throughout the movement get it wrong as you lower body! Into squat position Joshua J Stone, NASM certified personal trainer proper way is to overall leg development.! 5 squat variations with proper form front of shoulders, elbows bent, palms facing down the conventional squat. To lower your body is upright and your spine neutral and ensure that the bend your! Toes turning out, and ligaments may also get stronger from squatting barbell the. And shoulders for supporting the upper-body was the heaviest Rich Froning Worked up to heavier sets ( lb. Muscle groups, but also work and deeply engage the abs, down! Core is tight and your upper back forward to ) keeping chest lifted back. Forces will be distributed evenly throughout the movement: barbell or EZ bar, dumbbells 2...
2020 dumbbell overhead squat muscles worked