Legs · Machine · Isolation · Beginner
Seated Leg Curl
Primary
- Main muscles
- Hamstrings
How to do it
- Adjust the machine lever to fit your height and sit on the machine with your back against the back support pad.
- Place the back of lower leg on top of padded lever (just a few inches under the calves) and secure the lap pad against your thighs, just above the knees. Then grasp the side handles on the machine as you point your toes straight (or you can also use any of the other two stances) and ensure that the legs are fully straight right in front of you. This will be your starting position.
- As you exhale, pull the machine lever as far as possible to the back of your thighs by flexing at the knees. Keep your torso stationary at all times. Hold the contracted position for a second.
- Slowly return to the starting position as you breathe in.
Swaps on other equipment
Each has the hamstrings as its main muscle and is also a pull, on a different piece of equipment.
Other hamstring exercises
- Seated Floor Hamstring Stretch · Bodyweight
- Seated Hamstring · Bodyweight
- Seated Hamstring and Calf Stretch · Other
- Smith Machine Hang Power Clean · Machine
- Smith Machine Stiff-Legged Deadlift · Machine
- Snatch Deadlift · Barbell
Steps and photos from the public-domain Free Exercise DB, not individually reviewed. How this site is put together · Report a mistake