If the squat is rightly considered the undisputed king of all exercises, the queen machine for performing the squat movement perfectly can only be Hack Squat TECA.
Hack Squat TECA: the gym equipment for squat
The first thing you might come to think is that, perhaps, one Hack Squat machine is worth the other, but training your quadriceps with the machine developed by TECA is a unique fitness experience, which can be summed up in four words: effectiveness, versatility, safety and functionality.
Increasing the tone of the thigh muscles without overloading other muscles or placing undue stress on joints and tendons is not as easy as it might seem.
Every person is different. Unique. Individual characteristics, such as levers and joint mobility, require a careful choice of exercises to be performed in order for the training to be beneficial and to avoid annoying traumas and injuries.
When it comes to training, therefore, the right equipment will really make a difference, as only the best machines can reduce joint stress so that everyone can train with maximum safety and effectiveness, while fully respecting their individuality.
In this article you will discover why Hack Squat TECA is an exceptional piece of equipment and, at the same time, the ideal choice for powerful, rock-hard and sculpted quadriceps.
The quadriceps muscles: description and functions
Before we explore the benefits of training with Hack Squat TECA, I invite you to read a brief summary of the function of the quadriceps.
One of the largest muscles in the body, the quadriceps covers the front of the thigh and is composed of five heads: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius (located deep below the rectus femoris and not as visible as the others) and the vastus tensor intermedius (only recently discovered in 2016).
This muscle group extends the knee and stabilises the joint. Of the various heads that make up the quadriceps, the rectus femoris is a bi-articular muscle, which is why, in addition to extending the knee, it is also involved in hip flexion (bringing the leg towards the chest).
The quadriceps is best stimulated with exercises that focus on knee extension and, of all of them, the most complete is undoubtedly the squat.
Why stimulate quadriceps with Hack Squat Machine
The squat is a multi-joint exercise that acts, therefore, on many joints of which three are closely connected: hips, knees and ankles.
A fundamental exercise for firming and toning the lower limbs, it is no coincidence that the squat has earned the nickname ‘The King of Exercises’. The squat, in fact, recruits a large number of muscle groups with a single movement and is also a high-energy exercise, but, above all, it is the ideal tool for improving the aesthetics of the legs in the most effective way possible.
To sculpt the quadriceps, increase their strength, volume and muscle tone, there is no better exercise.
However, not everyone can do the squat. Or rather, they cannot perform it in such a way as to reap the maximum benefits.
The execution of the squat is strongly influenced by individual levers, in particular – length of the femur in relation to the tibia
– torso length.
As for mobility, that of the hips and ankles is crucial in the squat. Together, these two factors combine to allow a correct squat without placing undue stress on the joints and without losing balance and, as a result, falling.
Since not everyone can perform the squat with a barbell, Hack Squat was created to offer an alternative to the traditional squat with a barbell and relieve some of the load on the spine. This type of machine allows you to train the squat movement with your back resting on a plane inclined at 45°.
Caution, however. Much of the equipment on the market today, particularly traditional equipment with pulleys on two rails, has a major limitation: in the maximum squat, the foot and knee joints are at a clear biomechanical disadvantage, with a real risk of inflammation of the patellar and quadriceps tendons.
None of this happens with Hack Squat TECA. The secret? The excellent biomechanics that have become the company’s trademark over the years.
Let me tell you more about it.
Hack Squat Teca, a unique machine
Training your quadriceps with the Hack Squat means exercising with maximum safety, comfort and effectiveness. Here’s why.
Unlike similar machines, the machine designed by TECA is equipped with an exclusive lever system called VAP (Variable Altitude Pantograph), thanks to which stress on joints, tendons and spine has been reduced to a minimum. In practice, Hack Squat TECA has a unique technology and works according to original mechanical principles that differentiate it from all other similar equipment on the market today.
The first machine with the pantograph system was born at TECA back in 1989, after months of technological experimentation.
TECA technicians and engineers developed a Hack squat machine to train the squat from a standing position, and not on a 45° inclined plane. This means stimulating the thigh muscles in full respect of the physiology of the movement, with less instability than exercising with free weights and reduced joint stress.
With Hack squat TECA, the squat does not follow a straight line, as is the case with other machines on the market, but proceeds along an inclined axis, in practice a diagonal, supporting the movement and adapting to the user and his levers.
The machine, therefore, allows you to perform a very vertical squat, for a greater depth of squat. Being able to descend more and, I would add, do so in complete safety, helps to improve the depth of descent for all those people who tilt their torso forwards a lot due to individual levers and poor ankle mobility.
The strengths of the Hack Squat TECA, however, do not end there. In addition to the large, adjustable front footplate, the machine is equipped with two small rear footrests at the sides, thanks to which it is possible to safely and comfortably perform lunges, another fundamental exercise for the muscular development of the quadriceps.
Hack Squat Teca, small precautions for using it correctly
The versatility of the platform allows you to vary the position of your legs and feet and thus perform the squat with more emphasis on different leg areas.
To use it at its best, start by getting on the platform, with your back leaning against the backrest, but not tight, as it is important to maintain the physiological curves of the spinal column.
By varying the position of the feet and the inclination of the platform, it is possible to increase the stimulus on various parts of the leg.
To achieve a greater focus on the quadriceps, position the feet close to the body, with the heels always in contact with the footplate.
If, on the other hand, you want to stimulate more of the muscles at the back of the thigh, particularly the buttocks, simply tilt the footplate slightly and place your feet close to the top. This exercise variant has less emphasis on the shin and allows the femurs to take over the hip extension, which makes it a great exercise for the glutes. The B side is also profoundly stimulated in the variation performed in reverse: the exercise is called the Reverse Hack Squat and, compared to the movement with free weights, is very similar to a front squat.
Another exercise that will put even more strain on the quadriceps is the pistol squat. Compared to the traditional squat, the pistol is the one-legged variant and is an exercise with a greater degree of difficulty and requires more stabilisation work.
As mentioned earlier, Hack Squat Teca comes with two small rear footplates, located on either side of the machine, which allow you to perform lunges. To best stimulate your quadriceps, you can perform this exercise in two different ways: on the spot, first performing the number of repetitions for one leg and then moving to the other, or alternating legs.
You can also try the lunges in their reverse variant and, by varying the inclination of the front platform and the distance between the feet, you can choose which part of the leg to stimulate more. For burning quadriceps, lower the footplate completely and do not move the foot of the leg resting behind too far apart. For correct execution of the lunges, it is important that during the movement the knee of the front limb does not go beyond the tip of the foot.
Teca Fitness: your gym equipment
If you are looking for gym equipment, you can turn to Teca Fitness, your gym equipment manufacturer. Contact us by e-mail at info@tecafitness.com or by phone at 085.903301.
