Leg curls sitting on the leg curl machine

When performing the fitness exercise Leg Curls seated, start by sitting in the Leg Curls machine. Your back presses fully against the pad, with a slight arch in the lower back to help protect your spine. The buttocks should also be positioned as close as possible to the backrest. Adjust the machine so that the pivot points are at the level of your knees. The foot pad presses against the lower calves, just above the Achilles' heels. The legs are positioned hip-width apart. Alternatively, you can press only one leg against the foot pad to make the exercise unilateral. Keep your gaze forward, and your head forms a natural extension of the spine. If the Leg Curls machine has handles, hold onto them for additional stability during the exercise.

Movement execution

For the two-legged variation, press the pad down with both legs. Exhale during this movement. Extend the movement as far as possible. Then, bring the legs back up in a controlled motion, exhaling until the legs are almost fully extended.

In the single-leg variation on the Leg Curl machine, only one foot rests on the pad. The execution of the single-leg variation does not differ from the two-legged exercise.

Stressed muscles and common mistakes

Additional information about the engaged muscles and frequently occurring errors in the seated Leg Curl exercise on the Leg Curl machine can be found on the upper side Leg Curls on the Leg Curl machine.

Alternative variants to leg curls sitting on the leg curl machine

For more diversity in your training, you can also resort to similar exercises or other variations of the seated Leg Curl exercise on the Leg Curl machine.