Leg Curl vs Leg Extension
Which one fits your Leg workout plan?
Contents
Leg Curl also loads your hamstrings and calves — Leg Extension does not. Both train Leg, so pick by what you want to hit.
Compare the benefits of Leg Curl and Leg Extension and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.
Leg Curl vs Leg Extension: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions compared to 39,860 for Leg Curl.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Leg Curl and Leg Extension differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Leg Curl and Leg Extension Differ
| What differs | Leg Curl | Leg Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | hamstrings and calves | quads |
| Difficulty | 1 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 39,860 sessions | 49,848 sessions |
How to Do Leg Curl
Leg Curl Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Engage your hamstrings and glutes, and lift the ankle pads up to your hips.
- 2. Lower down only until your knees are fully extended against the weight resistance.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
- 2. Please be careful not to lift your upper body.
For a full Leg Curl guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Leg Curl exercise guide.
How to Do Leg Extension
Leg Extension Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please lift until your knees are fully extended.
- 2. Please contract from the front of your thigh close to your knee up to the upper thigh near the hip joint.
- 3. Slowly lower down until the angle of your knees is 90 degrees while resisting the weight.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please do not give any momentum as it may injure your knees.
- 2. Please be careful not to fully bend or straighten your knees.
- 3. Please be careful not to let your hips and back separate.
For a full Leg Extension guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Leg Extension exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Leg Curl or Leg Extension?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Leg, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Leg Curl and Leg Extension work the same muscles?
Not quite. Leg Curl loads hamstrings and calves, and Leg Extension loads quads.
What equipment do Leg Curl and Leg Extension need?
Leg Curl needs a machine, and Leg Extension needs a machine.
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