Exercise Of The WeeK: Hamstring Curl

Photo source: women's running UK

  Hamstring Curl Exercise 

If you have trouble firming the back thighs, you are not alone! This area easily accumulates body fat and it's one of the last parts to give up its stores, even if you are strictly eating healthy.
What’s more, underdeveloped hamstring muscles can make simple things more difficult to do— like stepping up on a foot stool to reach something on a top shelf or climbing stairs. Even slim and otherwise fit people can possess weak and soft hamstrings that lack tone and detract from the overall shape of the lower body.

As the name implies, the hamstring curl is a great exercise that targets and  strengthens the hamstrings muscles in the back of the thigh. The hamstring curl also works the gluteal muscles in the buttocks. The hamstrings consist of a group of muscles that run down the back side of the upper leg. Together, they work to bend or flex the knee joint and to extend the hip joint. It's important to adequately develop your hamstrings, as they're susceptible to injuries during sports and other physical activities if they lack strength. Strong hamstring muscles can also protect the knee from injury and improve your running cadence (rate of leg turnover), so you will be able to run faster and more efficiently.

There are multiple variations of the hamstring curl, and it's suggested that you vary which type of exercise you use throughout your strength training routine. The hamstring curl can be done with body weight, resistance band, and weight or gym equipment to work the muscles.

How To Perform Hamstring Curl 

These are various hamstring curl exercises, click on the links for demostration.

Body weight hamstring curl
Dumbell hamstring curl
Machine Hamstring Curl
Stability-ball hamstring curl
Resistance band hamstring curl