A barbell held behind the legs at arm's length, the hips and knees bend until the thighs near level and the legs drive back up: the original hack squat, sometimes called a rear deadlift, not the machine of the same name.
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Squat family
Barbell hack squat
Harder option
These tiers compare demands within this family, not universal safety or a mandatory sequence. Load, range, balance and your circumstances can change difficulty. Choose deliberately; pain does not select a progression.
A barbell held behind the legs at arm's length, the hips and knees bend until the thighs near level and the legs drive back up: the original hack squat, sometimes called a rear deadlift, not the machine of the same name.
DemandMedium
Equipment requiredA barbell
Muscle focusQuads · Glutes · Hamstrings · Back · Forearms
The figure gets into position, then repeats the movement. Technical checks passed; qualified exercise review is pending.
Watch this variation on the 3D figure above: it gets into position, then repeats the movement.
Source-researched guide. Clinical review is pending.
How to move
Stand with a barbell behind the legs, gripped overhand at shoulder width with the palms facing back.
With the head and chest up, bend the hips and knees until the thighs near level, the bar sliding down behind the legs on long arms.
Drive back up through the heels to standing.
Form cues
Keep the bar close to the backs of the legs.
Start light: the grip and the bar's path limit the load.
Practice and cautions
No universal dose is assigned. Choose a manageable amount for your current capacity, leave room for controlled repetitions, and allow recovery. A clinician’s individual plan takes priority.
This is movement education, not an assessment or treatment prescription. Stop for sharp or increasing pain, dizziness, numbness or tingling; seek individual guidance for symptoms, injury or restrictions.
Unlicense · Free Exercise DB contributors; derived from wrkout/exercises.json. Text import; no photographs or media. · Revision f00c92c7dcf1216a928a52c3706c7ce8e2f71ed5