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Which muscle group are we activating when running?
Everything you need to know about running
What muscles does running work? What parts of the body are we using and toning when running? Use the tool below to see the list of all the body parts that are trained while running!
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Jogging for fitness and strength building
What muscles are we training when running?
Depending on the sport, certain areas of the body will be trained more than others, but what about when you’re running? Will you tone and refine your figure by running, jogging or running? Below is a list of the muscles and muscle groups strengthened and sculpted by running!
Upper limbs (shoulders, arms and forearms)
Running involves very little effort from the upper limbs, and then only through the swinging movements of the arms.
Trunk and pelvis (Chest, stomach and back)
- Abdominals: These are made up of several layers of muscle (rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, transverse) whose function is to flex and rotate the trunk.
- Back muscles: The back groups together muscles such as the trapezius, the dorsalis major, the rhomboids, the infraspinatus and the round muscle. These muscles play a wide variety of roles. From the dorsal to the lumbar, they ensure arm and shoulder mobility, postural support and protection of the spine.
Lower limbs (glutes, thighs and calves)
- Quadriceps: Located at the front of the thigh, the quadriceps is made up of 4 muscles (vastus femoris or rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius). These muscles facilitate flexion of the thigh over the hip, as well as extension of the leg over the thigh.
- Hamstring muscles: Located on the back of the thigh, there are four hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semitendinosus). They ensure leg flexion and thigh extension.
- Calf muscles: also known as the sural triceps, the calf muscles comprise 3 muscle fascicles, including the soleus and gastrocnemius. These muscles help extend the foot down the leg
Running is a toning sport that strengthens several muscles. It primarily involves the lower limbs. Running sculpts and muscles the thigh (quadriceps, hamstrings) and calf muscles. In addition, maintaining the trunk during strides promotes muscular development of the stomach, abdominal and back muscles. If you’d like to enjoy the benefits of running without leaving home, a treadmill may be an alternative.
