Barbell Squat vs Leg curl

Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan

Contents

Barbell Squat works multiple joints at once, Leg curl isolates — difficulty 3 of 5 vs 1. See which fits your Leg day.

Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Squat and Leg curl for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Squat vs Leg curl : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg curl more often — 39,861 sessions compared to 26,460 for Barbell Squat.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Squat and Leg curl differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

Not sure whether Barbell Squat or Leg curl fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Barbell Squat

Barbell Squat gif

Barbell Squat muscles worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your back straight, then bend at the hip to lower your buttocks down.
  2. 2. Allow your knees to bend naturally until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
  3. 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
  4. 4. As your hips rise, straighten your knees and hips in sequence, returning to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
  2. 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
  3. 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
  4. 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
  5. 5. Make sure your feet do not lift off the ground.
  6. 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Squat Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Barbell Squat methods?

How to Leg curl

Leg curl gif

Leg curl muscles worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Engage your hamstrings and glutes, and lift the ankle pads up to your hips.
  2. 2. Lower down only until your knees are fully extended against the weight resistance.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to lift your upper body.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Leg curl, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Leg curl Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Leg curl methods?

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