Seated Leg Curl

How to do the Seated Leg Curl

1. Adjust the machine lever to fit your height and sit on the machine with your back against the back support pad.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Slowly return to the starting position as you breathe in.
5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	hamstrings
Equipment	machine
Difficulty	beginner
Type	isolation

No machine? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Floor Glute-Ham Raise Bodyweight Natural Glute Ham Raise Bodyweight Ball Leg Curl Exercise Ball Prone Manual Hamstring Bodyweight Dumbbell Clean Dumbbell Stiff-Legged Dumbbell Deadlift Dumbbell

Harder than the Seated Leg Curl

Split Snatch expert · Barbell Reverse Band Sumo Deadlift expert · Barbell Power Snatch expert · Barbell

Superset the Seated Leg Curl with

Opposing quads work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Leg Extensions quads Single-Leg Leg Extension quads Chair Squat quads Hack Squat quads

Common questions

What muscles does the Seated Leg Curl work?

The Seated Leg Curl primarily works the hamstrings. Ball Leg Curl, Floor Glute-Ham Raise, and Lying Leg Curls train the same muscle, across 9 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the Seated Leg Curl?

A Machine. Without a machine, Floor Glute-Ham Raise, Natural Glute Ham Raise, and Ball Leg Curl train the same muscle, and 20 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the Seated Leg Curl suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Seated Leg Curl is rated beginner. Split Snatch, Reverse Band Sumo Deadlift, and Power Snatch are the progressions from here.

Where should the Seated Leg Curl go in a workout?

Late — the Seated Leg Curl is isolation work, so it follows your compounds. Supersetting it with Leg Extensions and Single-Leg Leg Extension cuts session time without extra rest.

Similar exercises

Ball Leg Curl Exercise Ball Floor Glute-Ham Raise Bodyweight Lying Leg Curls Machine Platform Hamstring Slides Other Equipment Seated Band Hamstring Curl Other Equipment Standing Leg Curl Machine