Lower Body Power & Tendon Resilience

(Week 13, Power Sprint Program)
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Day Overview

This session emphasizes leg strength, explosive power, and tendon resilience, especially targeting Achilles and knee tendons. Heavy compound lifts are combined with accessory work to build muscle and support injury prevention, crucial for speed and agility on the field.

Exercises

  • Back Squat (Safety Squat Bar)

    The Back Squat with a Safety Squat Bar involves placing the specialized barbell with padding across the upper back and shoulders. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly pointed outward. Keep your chest up, core engaged, and maintain a neutral spine. Initiate the movement by hinging at the hips and bending the knees to lower your hips downward and backward, as if sitting into a chair. Descend until your thighs are parallel to the ground or slightly below, ensuring knees track over toes. Push through your heels to return to the starting position, maintaining proper form throughout. The Safety Squat Bar's design reduces stress on the shoulders and allows for a more upright torso, making it suitable for individuals with shoulder or wrist limitations. It primarily targets the quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and core muscles, with emphasis on maintaining stability and proper alignment during the movement.

    Prescribed Sets:

    Perform 4 sets of 8-10 reps with an RPE of 8. Focus on controlled descent and explosive drive upward, emphasizing tendon loading and strength. Use a weight that challenges but maintains proper form.

    Working Sets:

    4

  • Romanian Deadlift

    Focus on hamstring engagement by lowering the barbell with a slight knee bend while keeping the back straight.

    Prescribed Sets:

    Perform 4 sets of 8-10 reps with an RPE of 8. Prioritize hip hinge mechanics and posterior chain engagement to strengthen hamstrings and glutes, supporting Achilles health.

    Working Sets:

    4

  • Leg Press

    Sit on the leg press machine and push the platform with your legs to extend your knees.

    Prescribed Sets:

    Perform 4 sets of 8-10 reps with an RPE of 8. Focus on full range of motion and controlled tempo to build quad and hamstring hypertrophy, supporting knee stability.

    Working Sets:

    4

  • Walking Lunges

    Begin by standing upright with feet hip-width apart. Step forward with your right foot, lowering your hips until both knees are bent at about 90 degrees. Keep your torso upright and your front knee aligned over your ankle. Push through the heel of your front foot to stand up and bring your back foot forward into the next lunge position, stepping ahead into a new lunge. Continue alternating legs in a walking motion, maintaining proper form throughout. Keep your core engaged, shoulders back, and avoid letting your front knee go past your toes.

    Prescribed Sets:

    Perform 3 sets of 10 reps per leg with an RPE of 8. Use bodyweight or light dumbbells, emphasizing controlled movement to enhance balance, coordination, and tendon strength.

    Working Sets:

    3

  • Calf Raises (Standing or Seated)

    Stand upright with feet hip-width apart, ensuring balance. For standing calf raises, lift your heels off the ground by pushing through the balls of your feet, engaging your calf muscles, then slowly lower back down. For seated calf raises, sit on a bench or chair with feet flat on the ground, place weight on your knees if desired, then raise your heels by pushing through the balls of your feet, and lower back down slowly. Keep your knees slightly bent or straight depending on variation. Maintain a controlled movement, avoid bouncing, and focus on squeezing the calf muscles at the top of the movement.

    Prescribed Sets:

    Perform 4 sets of 12-15 reps with an RPE of 8. Focus on slow, controlled reps to strengthen Achilles tendons and calves, supporting speed and injury prevention.

    Working Sets:

    4

  • Hip Abduction Machine

    To perform the hip abduction machine exercise, sit on the machine with your back against the padded support. Adjust the seat height and backrest to ensure comfort and proper alignment. Place your legs inside the padded levers, ensuring that your knees are aligned with the pivot point of the machine. Grip the handles or the sides of the seat for stability. Begin the movement by pushing your legs outward against the resistance, focusing on squeezing your glutes and outer thighs. Keep your feet flexed and avoid arching your back. Slowly return to the starting position while maintaining control. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Prescribed Sets:

    Perform 3 sets of 12 reps with an RPE of 7-8. Strengthen hip abductors to improve lateral stability and injury resilience.

    Working Sets:

    3

  • Reverse Hyperextensions

    To perform reverse hyperextensions, lie face down on a hyperextension bench with your hips positioned at the edge. Secure your legs under the pads or supports. Keep your arms crossed over your chest or behind your head. Engage your glutes and lower back muscles to lift your legs and hips upward, extending your hips and legs behind you in a controlled manner. Avoid using momentum; focus on muscle engagement. Slowly lower your legs back to the starting position, maintaining control throughout. Keep your neck in a neutral position and avoid overarching your lower back during the movement.

    Prescribed Sets:

    Perform 3 sets of 10-12 reps with an RPE of 8. Focus on posterior chain activation, supporting lower back and hamstring health.

    Working Sets:

    3

  • Ab Wheel Rollout

    Kneel holding ab wheel, roll forward extending body, roll back contracting abs.

    Prescribed Sets:

    Perform 3 sets of 8-10 reps with an RPE of 8. Engage core and shoulder stabilizers for overall functional strength.

    Working Sets:

    3

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