Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound
Lever Seated Leg Curl: How to Do It & Muscles Worked
The lever seated leg curl is a machine-based exercise that targets the hamstrings. It involves curling your lower legs against resistance while seated, isolating the hamstrings and minimizing involvement from other muscle groups.
- Primary muscles
- Hamstrings
- Secondary muscles
- Calves
- Equipment
- Leverage Machine
- Level · type
- Beginner · Compound
How to do the lever seated leg curl
- Step 1: Adjust the machine to fit your body and sit on it with your back against the backrest.
- Step 2: Place your lower legs under the padded lever, just above your ankles.
- Step 3: Grasp the handles on the sides of the machine for support.
- Step 4: Keeping your upper legs stationary, exhale and curl your legs up as far as possible.
- Step 5: Hold the contracted position for a brief pause as you squeeze your hamstrings.
- Step 6: Inhale and slowly lower the lever back to the starting position.
- Step 7: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets, reps and programming
| Goal | Sets | Reps | Rest | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3–5 | 3–6 | 3–5 min | 1–3 reps in reserve |
| Muscle growth | 3–4 | 6–12 | 2–3 min | 1–2 reps in reserve |
| Muscular endurance | 2–3 | 12–20 | 1–2 min | 1–3 reps in reserve |
Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.
Lever Seated Leg Curl alternatives
More exercises that train the hamstrings as their main target:
-
Assisted Prone Hamstring
Hamstrings · Assisted · Beginner compound -
Dumbbell Lying Femoral
Hamstrings · Dumbbell · Beginner compound -
Exercise Ball Seated Hamstring Stretch
Hamstrings · Stability Ball · Beginner stretch -
Hamstring Stretch
Hamstrings · Body Weight · Beginner stretch -
Kick Out Sit
Hamstrings · Body Weight · Beginner compound -
Leg Up Hamstring Stretch
Hamstrings · Body Weight · Beginner stretch -
Lying Leg Curl
Hamstrings · Leverage Machine · Beginner compound -
Reclining Big Toe Pose with Rope
Hamstrings · Rope · Beginner stretch
More hamstrings exercises
-
Barbell Good Morning
Hamstrings · Barbell · Intermediate compound -
Barbell Straight Leg Deadlift
Hamstrings · Barbell · Intermediate compound -
Cable Assisted Inverse Leg Curl
Hamstrings · Cable · Intermediate compound -
Glute-Ham Raise
Hamstrings · Body Weight · Advanced compound -
Inverse Leg Curl (Bench Support)
Hamstrings · Body Weight · Intermediate compound -
Inverse Leg Curl (On Pull-Up Cable Machine)
Hamstrings · Body Weight · Advanced compound
Sources
- American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
- Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
- Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
- Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.
Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.
This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.