Hamstrings

[latestart]

Hey all,

Im wondering what exercises people recommend for the lower body? Obviously because of the whole strength to weight ratio, we're not looking to bulk up our legs. But on moves where I really need to sink down into or fully crank on a heelhook, I find that I'm limited in the number of tries I can give because of pain or discomfort.

I'm not sure if the issue is a matter of flexibility or strength... Better flexibility would let me sink down farther, but higher strength would allow me to take more eight off my fingers without compromising my body position.

Any recommendations for lower body exercises? Does it seem like the issue is a matter of flexibility or a matter of strength?

Thanks!

[MarkAnderson]

I don't really follow what you mean by "sink down", but your statement that you are limited by pain or discomfort makes me think it's more of a flexibility issue than a strength issue. It's hard for me to imagine having such weak hamstrings that you couldn't manage a heel hook, but I tend to take leg strength for granted. There's also a technique element to heel hooking, and that could be an issue too. Where is the pain?

[latestart]

I guess what I was getting at in regards to "sinking" vs. "cranking" was how engaged the leg muscle is.  I'd describe actively pulling with the leg as "cranking", whereas with "sinking" I can rely on friction or good features (huecos, for instance) to keep the heel hook engaged. When I have my heel in a hueco I can relax my leg muscles and rely more on my skeleton / connective tissue to keep me on the wall.

In either case, the pain occurs in the middle of the hamstring.