Machine leg curl

Seated in a leg curl machine, the knees bend against a roller; the machine guides the movement and the load is easy to set.

Hamstring curl family

Machine leg curl

Easier option

Seated in a leg curl machine, the knees bend against a roller; the machine guides the movement and the load is easy to set.

DemandEasy

Equipment requiredA gym machine

Muscle focusHamstrings · Calves

Gets into position, then repeats the movement. Technical checks passed; qualified exercise review is pending.

Watch it bigger, and flip through similar moves, in the studio.Open in the studio

Source-researched guide. Clinical review is pending.

How to move

Set the machine so its pivot lines up with your knees and the roller sits on the backs of the lower legs just above the heels; lower the lap pad snugly onto the thighs.
Bend the knees to draw the roller down and back under the seat.
Let it return slowly until the legs are nearly straight.

Form cues

Keep the hips and back against the seat.
Ease into the fully bent position; cramping is common at first.

Practice and cautions

No universal dose is assigned. Choose a manageable amount for your current capacity, leave room for controlled repetitions, and allow recovery. A clinician’s individual plan takes priority.

This is movement education, not an assessment or treatment prescription. Stop for sharp or increasing pain, dizziness, numbness or tingling; seek individual guidance for symptoms, injury or restrictions.

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Sources and review status

Sources support the educational description; they do not establish that this exercise is suitable for you.

NASM · Seated leg curl ↗
McAllister 2014 · Hamstring activation in four exercises, including the leg curl (EMG) ↗
Free Exercise DB · alias and muscle metadata ↗
Unlicense · Free Exercise DB contributors; derived from wrkout/exercises.json. Text import; no photographs or media. · Revision f00c92c7dcf1216a928a52c3706c7ce8e2f71ed5

No variation is labeled clinically validated.

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What it works

Muscles

Main: Hamstrings. Also: Calves.

Equipment

Strength machine

Level

Beginner. See the easier and harder options above.

Workouts that use it

Pain guides that use it

Part of a staged plan, with when to get help first.

Hamstring strain exercises: from first days to sprinting

Similar moves

Seated Leg Curl demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoSeated Leg CurlBeginner · Strength machine

Standing Leg Curl demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoStanding Leg CurlBeginner · Strength machine

Slider hamstring curl, lowering only demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoSlider hamstring curl, lowering onlyBeginner · No equipment

Ball Leg CurlBeginner · Exercise ball

Seated Band Hamstring Curl demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoSeated Band Hamstring CurlBeginner · Other / check instructions + A bench or box

Clean from blocks demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoClean from blocksAdvanced · A barbell

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Questions people ask

What muscles does the Machine leg curl work?

Mainly the hamstrings, with help from the calves.

What equipment do I need for the Machine leg curl?

Strength machine.

Is the Machine leg curl good for beginners?

It is graded beginner, so it suits most people starting out. When it feels easy, try the Slider hamstring curl.

How do I make the Machine leg curl harder?

Progress to the Slider hamstring curl, or add load, range or slower lowering once your form is solid.