Seated Leg Curl

Start

Finish

How to do it

Sit with the knee joint at the machine pivot, lock the thigh pad down over the legs, then curl the heels back underneath you as far as they go and return slowly.

Muscles worked

Primary: hamstrings · Also works: calves

Equipment

Machines, Full gym

Common mistakes

• Leaving the thigh pad loose so the legs lift and the hips do the work
• Letting the weight stack yank the legs straight rather than resisting the return
• Pushing back against the seat with the torso and using the lower back to help

Variations

• One leg at a time
• Point the toes toward the shins to bias the hamstrings over the calves
• Slow four-second eccentric

Can't do this one? Swap it for

• Lying Leg Curl
• Band Leg Curl
• Sliding Leg Curl

Related exercises

• Conventional Deadlifthamstrings
• Dumbbell Romanian Deadlifthamstrings
• Downward-Facing Doghamstrings
• Seated Forward Foldhamstrings
• Lying Leg Curlhamstrings
• Nordic Hamstring Curlhamstrings