Training your hamstrings can help support your body in a wide variety of exercises.
The hamstrings assist you with lifting items and form the basis for your body's posterior muscle chain.
Strong hamstrings can also help protect your back from injury.
They sit on the back of your thigh and span the area between your knee and glutes.
The following exercises will help build your hamstrings.
Barbell Deadlifts - Deadlifts help work all of the muscles in your legs, including your hamstrings.
Start with the barbell on the floor in front of you.
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
Bend at the knees and grab the bar.
Keep your elbows on the outside of your knees.
Use your body to lift the bar up off of the floor.
Your arms should be straight, but your knees should be bent.
Use your legs, glutes and hips to raise the weight and not your back.
Stand up straight once you reach the top of the lift and keep the barbell at shoulder height.
Start to lower bar and keep it control.
Once you reach the floor, you can take it back up again for another rep.
Stiff Leg - This exercise requires a lot of focus because making a mistake can result in a lower back injury.
A stiff leg is very similar to a deadlift, but your feet are closer together.
Reach down and grab the barbell from this stance and then use your legs, glutes and hips to raise the bar.
Lower the weight back down carefully to avoid straining the hamstring but do not bend your knees.
Let the bar hang as low as you can and then straighten your posture.
Repeat this movement for several reps and then return the barbell to the floor.
Keep in mind that the hamstrings are a hard area to isolate.
Any exercises that you do that use your legs and your glutes will also work the hamstring area.