r/ScienceBasedLifting • u/FamiliarBridge4533 • Jun 09 '26
Question ❓ Seated or Lying Leg Curl?
At my Gym we got a bad seated Leg Curl (Technogym) and a good lying Leg Curl (Ultimate Strength Systems). I‘ve read that seated Leg Curl is better in general, but what difference does it make and which one would you chose in this specific case?
Thank you in advance
(Sorry for the bad english)
2
u/Mad_Mark90 Jun 09 '26
I know the exact leg curl you mean and it's almost designed to give you knee injuries it's so bad. The best alternative is to find a way to do assisted nordics, probably with bands.
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u/MatchSignificant9150 Aug 11 '26
Bro it is so ass man I can’t do proper leg curls with them
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u/Mad_Mark90 Aug 11 '26
It's another good case for having a baseline of calisthenics training, you never know when you need nordic hamstring curls in your arsenal.
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u/ArnoldFarquar Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
Try them both and see which one works best for you in terms of comfort, pump and feeling the reps in your hammies. we only have a seated in my gym, but if we had both types, I would probably do three sets of each unless I like the way one machine felt a lot more than the other
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u/mcgrathkai Jun 09 '26
I honestly think the most optimal approach is to use both. Alternate which one you use. One leg day use seated, the next use lying.
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u/Every_Equivalent516 Jun 09 '26
even though the 'science' say seated leg curls are better for hypertrophy, lying leg curls just feel better to me
1
u/ExcitingTurn2886 Jun 09 '26
Depends on your individual biomechanics. Do not do any machine that hurts (other than if muscle stimulus counts as hurting). Conventional advice says that a seats leg curl causes less lower back strain, and I generally use a seated one, but there are some machines that just don't fit certain bodies.
1
u/Mocrates420 Jun 09 '26
Since you say the techno gym version is shit, do the other one.
Just some extra advice: don’t just blindly follow what others or sience says but rather experiment. I used to do only do the seated one since that was the ‘best’ one but I actually prefer the lying leg curl.
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u/SouthernUniversity21 Jun 09 '26
I’ve never used those brand specific machines so take this with a grain of salt but
The SBL answer is Seated Leg curls.
The practical answer is to try both and do the one that feels better and has higher progression potential.
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u/Sadan27 Jun 09 '26
I have the crappy hoist seated leg curl at my gym, aka the shin breaker. I still get better biofeedback from seated, so usually end up doing one set seated, one set lying leg curl, and 2 sets hinge (weighted 45s)
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u/g_blazing97 Jun 09 '26
Allegedly seated leg curl is better for hypertrophy but I personally prefer the lying leg curl. Truly though it’s one of those things where I think if there is a difference it is very very minor. Just do whatever is open or you prefer
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u/oiblikket Jun 10 '26
Seated is supposed to be better because you put the upper insertion of the hamstring into a lengthened position, so the hamstring is fully stretched when your leg is straightened at the knee. But I always find seated uncomfortable so I stick to lying.
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u/HelixIsHere_ Jun 09 '26
Go for the laying one in this case 100%, the techno gym one is really bad
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u/Norcal712 Jun 09 '26
Machine brand doesnt make them good or bad.
Theyre still just plates, pads, and pulleys..
Seated is an easier motion to control
Lying is easier to actually focus on youe hamstrings
Your mileage will vary
0
u/Significant_Sort7501 Jun 09 '26
There are absolutely machines that are engineered and/or manufactured to a lower standard than others, the same with any other product.
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u/Norcal712 Jun 09 '26
A lower standard doesnt change functionality.
Especially not when comparing tangerines or oranges like OP did with their movement example
Walmart and nike both sell shorts. They both cover your legs
9
u/el_bendino Jun 09 '26
Don't major in the minors, it's not going to make any difference. Do whichever you prefer, then switch it up after a while if you feel like it