Lying leg curls alternatives

Leg curls are a classic exercise to isolate and strengthen your hamstrings. Are you feeling ready to curl up in a corner if you have to do another leg curl? It might be time to shake lying leg curls alternatives your lower-bod workout with these leg curl alternatives. Ready to get your legs moving?

If you don't have one handy, though, what's the next best option? The hamstrings assist in powering some of your strongest exercises, like the squat and the deadlift. They are also key players in most athletic activities, like running and jumping. Building strength by targeting this muscle group can improve all of these movements. The leg curl machine is chief in doing just that. There are two types of hamstring curl machines, and you're likely to find one or the other in most gyms.

Lying leg curls alternatives

Machine leg curls are an exercise we all love to hate. So let's talk about leg curl alternatives. What other exercises provide the same benefits but avoid the exhaustion? I found several alternatives worth consideration. Here are my top choices for leg curl replacements. I'll introduce each, then show you how to do them. My favorite alternatives for leg curls includes some isolation exercises as well as exercises to develop the posterior chain as a whole. Leg curls are designed to stimulate the hamstrings, so a good alternative is going to do the same thing in an alternative way. The primary function of the hamstrings is to flex bend the knee. Knowing the functions of the hamstrings gives us a good idea of what movement patterns will be good alternatives for the hamstring curl. Since their primary function is knee flexion a lot of these substitutes for leg curls will revolve around that movement.

This exercise is a good leg curl substitute because, in addition to isolating the hamstrings, it also helps improve balance.

Exercises that target the same primary muscle groups and require the same equipment. Exercises that target the same primary muscle groups with different equipment. Sign Up. Your browser does not support the video tag. Pro Tip For added benefit, lower your legs slowly. How To Lie face down, adjusting the machine so that the pad is between your calf and the back of your ankle while grabbing the handles in front of you.

The Lying Leg Curl is a common exercise used to target the muscles in the back of the lower leg, known as the hamstrings. It is performed on a weight machine, with the athlete lying on their stomach and sliding their ankles under a lever. Lying Leg Curls can be a beneficial exercise for athletes, bodybuilders, and anyone looking to improve their hamstring strength. However, as beneficial as Lying Leg Curls may be, sometimes you may find yourself needing a Lying Leg Curl alternative. This list of Lying Leg Curl alternatives has a lot of variety within it. My goal with this list was to give you a bunch of ideas so you could pick and choose which exercises you like the best to serve as a replacement for Lying Leg Curls. Floor Sliders only cost a couple of bucks and are small enough to easily keep in your gym bag if you need to.

Lying leg curls alternatives

If you want to isolate your hamstrings, leg curls — also known as hamstring curls — are a great bet. Whether performed on a machine at the gym or even with a resistance band or dumbbell, this exercise will strengthen your hamstrings with each rep. Despite the benefits, the leg curl may not be possible to integrate into your routine. A handful of other exercises also target the hamstrings and make suitable alternatives to the leg curl. Eight curated options are below, some using just body weight and some requiring equipment. Dive in and start crafting your own routine.

Demaiter hockey

As you may have guessed from the name, you will need an exercise ball some call it a stability ball for this one. Including hamstring exercises in your strength training routine will benefit your day-to-day life. Bring yourself back to the starting position. We understand the intimidation factor and want to help you find the best workouts for your body and experience level. Use them to push yourself back up to the starting position and do as many reps as you can. Here are a few things to consider before picking your new fave:. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Flutter Kick. The movement itself is simple: Bend down so your stomach is parallel to the floor, then raise your upper body back up to standing in a straight position. Here are five options to help you grow bigger, stronger hamstrings.

Most lifters strive to build strong, thick hamstrings on leg day. Well-developed hamstrings contribute to chiseled, sculpted legs. Your hamstrings also support functional activities like walking, running, kicking, and jumping.

Jacob Wymer. Your hamstrings are responsible for two movements. Kettlebell swings are full-body moves that target your hamstrings specifically and are a great substitute for traditional leg curls. Seated leg curls stretch the hamstrings more, which increases overall mechanical tension. You can stabilize yourself with your hands on the ground or you can lay on them on your sides, palms facing up. Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. In order to achieve optimal leg bulk, the hamstrings should be worked as much as the other muscles by adding variation to hamstring workout routines. Stiff Legged Barbell Deadlift. For more resources on this, check out my guide on Leg Press Foot Placements. Swing the kettlebell up until both of your arms are straight in front of you, fully extended. Straight Leg Kickback. To emphasize the hamstrings rather than the glutes, dig your heels into the ground. For another variation, you can do the Donkey Kick with your hands raised, either up on a bench or on blocks. When you do leg curls, you expedite that process and make them more able to endure an intense cardio workout. To develop your hamstrings, aim for 3 sets of 12 reps of each exercise to start.