What muscles are used in power cleans?

Power cleans primarily use the extensor muscles of the hips, abdomen and back. The hip extensor muscles are used to push the legs downward, such as when pushing against the ground while running. The extensor muscles of the abdomen and back act to straighten up the spine.

A power clean is a full-body Olympic-style lift. It involves squatting down and picking up a barbell off the floor. Next, the athlete stands up by straightening the legs. The bar is lifted up to chest height as the athlete briefly rises up onto the ball of the foot. The athlete then shifts the grip on the bar while dipping into a quarter squat and straightens up with the bar underneath the chin. The bar is then lowered to the floor.