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Front squat

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Muscles worked

High load
Quads
Medium load
Glutes · Maximus
Low load
Core, Hamstrings · Hip extension, and Upper back

Primary muscles

Secondary muscles

How to do it

Rack the bar across the front delts with a clean or cross-arm grip and keep the elbows high so the bar cannot roll forward. Sit straight down with an upright torso, letting the chest lead out of the hole, and stop at the depth you can hold without the lower back rounding. If the elbows drop, the bar dumps forward — end the set rather than fight it.

Form cues

  • Keep elbows high through the whole rep
  • Stay upright — chest leads out of the hole

Safety

Talk to a professional before this exercise if you have any of the following:

KneeLower backWrist

This is general exercise reference, not medical advice. Stop and consult a qualified professional if an exercise causes pain, and never work through joint pain.