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Our legs are some of the most ignored parts of the body, especially in the gym, despite the important function they perform of moving us from one place to another, among other things. While there are numerous exercises to work the arms, there aren't as many for our legs. Even the ones that are there do not spark such excitement with the arrival of leg day.
While a dozen curl exercises can make up arm workouts alone, the legs only feature one, quite unsurprisingly called the leg curl. Also known as the hamstring curl, this movement can also be viewed as the arm curl for the legs, as it works the big hamstring muscles on the back of the thighs.
Similar to the other exercises that involve the 'curling' movement, it is also an isolated exercise that just targets one muscle group. You can perform this exercise in two ways; one at the gym with a leg curl machine, or even at home over a bench with a dumbbell.
Movements like walking and running rely heavily on the functioning of our hamstrings, and even a slight twitch can limit our movements. Leg curls are a great way to keep the hamstrings in good shape, and compliments another exercise, the leg extensions, very well. Hamstrings work similarly as our arm’s biceps; it is located between the knee and hip joints, and helps rotate and flex the knee.
To complete your leg day it is very important to at least perform one exercise focused on the hamstrings. The leg curl not only tones the back of your leg but also enhances the look of your quadriceps, or the front thigh muscles.
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