Leg curl (hamstrings) machine – legs wide or narrow? Or both?

Asked by: Billy Fats

Are leg curls and hamstring curls the same?

The hamstring curl, also called a leg curl, is an exercise that strengthens the hamstrings. It involves bending your knees and moving your heels toward your butt while the rest of your body stays still. Typically, the exercise is done on a leg curl machine.

Does leg curl machine work hamstrings?

What Muscles Does the Leg Curl/Extension Machine Work? A trainer may send you to the leg curl or leg extension machine to work your legs. These two machines work the opposing sides of your thighs. Use a leg curl machine to load the muscles in the back or posterior of the leg, primarily the hamstrings.

How do you use a leg curl machine for hamstrings?

When doing seated leg curls, the thigh pad should rest just above the knees and the lower leg pad directly below the calf. While grasping the machine’s handles, push down on the lower leg pad, pulling it as close to your butt as you can. Hold, then return to the starting position.

Is there a difference between lying and seated hamstring curl?

The main difference between the seated leg curl and the lying leg curl is that the seated leg curl loads the hamstring in a longer state. This makes the seated leg curl more effective at activating the hamstring muscles and increasing their size. Both exercises are equally effective at building hamstring strength.

Which hamstring curl is best?

The prone hamstring curl machine gets a better hamstring recruitment and is a better bet because only the quads are fixed, and the hamstrings can move more freely through a range of motion.

What is a hamstring curl machine?

Dr. Laskowski: The seated hamstring curl is an exercise you can do with a weight machine to work the muscles in the back of the thigh. As the name implies, the seated hamstring curl targets the hamstring muscles here in the back of the thigh. Strong hamstring muscles help to protect your ligaments in the knee.

Are seated hamstring curls better?

And the seated leg curl is a better option for hamstring muscle growth compared to the lying or standing leg curl. For complete hamstring development, you’ll see the best results by including exercises that involve both hip extension and knee flexion in your resistance training program.

Do leg curls make your legs bigger?

When performed at an appropriate volume, leg curls can effectively increase the size of your hamstrings. Also helping out during leg curls are your gastrocnemius and soleus, which are the two major muscles in your calves.