Leg Curl
The leg curl is an isolation exercise that primarily trains the hamstrings, with the calves assisting. Equipment: machines. Suited to beginner lifters.
- Primary muscles
- Hamstrings
- Secondary muscles
- calves
- Muscle group
- legs
- Equipment
- machines
- Movement pattern
- Isolation
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Also searched as
- lying leg curl, hamstring curl, hamstring curls
Complete leg curl guides
- Proper formLeg Curl: Proper Form, Step by StepA clear, safety-first guide to leg curl proper form: setup, execution cues, breathing, tempo, common mistakes and fixes for lying, seated, and standing variations.
- Muscles workedLeg Curl: Muscles Worked and Best AlternativesClear, practical breakdown of which muscles the leg curl trains, where it belongs in a program, and 4 strong alternatives for different equipment, injury, and plateau scenarios.
- Sets and repsHow Many Sets and Reps for the Leg Curl?Clear, evidence-aware set/rep/frequency ranges for the leg curl by goal (strength, hypertrophy, endurance), week-to-week progression, and when to add weight vs reps.
- Common mistakesThe Most Common Leg Curl Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)Fix the most common leg curl mistakes—6 technique errors, why they happen, what you lose (or risk), and one concrete fix per mistake to protect gains and knees.
- At-home alternativesLeg Curl Alternatives at Home (Minimal Equipment)Practical at-home substitutes for the lying leg curl using bodyweight, dumbbells, or bands — what each keeps, what it misses, and when to return to the gym.
Related exercises
Train the same muscles or the same movement pattern.
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