This month on Trainer Tip Tuesday we will be discussing considerations when you are using the knee flexion (a.k.a. leg curl) machine. The knee flexion machine can be one of the most effective tools in the gym for building the size and strength of your hamstrings, but there are many things to keep in mind before hopping on.
When using the knee flexion machine, there is a lot of opportunity to be distracted by things that ultimately don’t help you build your health and function with this exercise. What should you be thinking about in this case to make sure that you don’t get caught up in distractions?
Over the past decade plus of working with clients, we have found that one of the best things to be thinking about when doing this exercise is the muscles you are trying to challenge. In this case, we recommend you focus on squeezing your hamstrings. Sometimes people focus on squeezing their calves as well, which is a fine option, but we almost always recommend the focus be put on the hamstrings.
If your focus is somewhere other than on squeezing your muscles, there is a high likelihood that your results from this exercise will not be as great as they could be and you may be setting yourself up for an increased risk for injury.
Check out all of the details in this week’s episode of Trainer Tip Tuesday, and be sure to tune back in next week as we discuss considerations for the knee flexion machine.
