Front squats put a special emphasis on which muscle group?

Front squats place a special emphasis on the quadriceps (quads) primarily due to the positioning of the barbell. When performing a front squat, the load is placed anteriorly across the shoulders and front of the body, which requires the lifter to maintain a more upright torso position compared to back squats. This upright posture compels the knees to travel more forward over the toes during the squat motion, which in turn increases the demand on the quadriceps muscles to initiate the movement and control the descent.

Additionally, the front squat engages the quadriceps more effectively because of the reduced involvement of the posterior chain (such as the hamstrings and glutes) compared to other squat variations. The emphasis on the quads is also supported by the mechanics of the lift, as the front loading requires greater knee flexion, thereby activating the quadriceps to a higher degree. This makes the front squat a particularly effective exercise for building strength and hypertrophy in the quadriceps muscle group.