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Explore/Hamstrings

Seated Leg Curl

MachineIsolationEasy to learn
Front
Back
Primary Secondary

Works

Hamstrings

Also calves

You need

Machines

Seated leg curl setup →

How to do it

  1. 1Knees lined up with the pivot
  2. 2Lean your torso forward for more stretch
  3. 3Curl all the way, then let it straighten slowly

Most common mistake

Leaning back, which shortens the hamstrings and the benefit.

Watch a demo
S
For hamstrings
#1 of 18
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Research
95
Published rubric
Lifters
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0/10 ratings
Results
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From the app
How lifters rate itBe the first
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Why research scores it 951 study
Target tension · 35%5/5
Loaded stretch · 25%5/5
Progression · 20%5/5
Low cost · 20%4/5

Seated curls grew the hamstrings more than lying curls (+14% vs +9%) in a 12-week study.

  • Maeo et al., 2021: Seated leg curls grew the hamstrings more than lying leg curls (+14% vs +9% volume) over 12 weeks. (20 untrained adults; one study.)
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