Leg Curl vs Side Kick Back
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 sessions vs 822. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Leg Curl and Side Kick Back for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Leg Curl vs Side Kick Back : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 sessions compared to 822 for Side Kick Back.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Leg Curl and Side Kick Back differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Leg Curl and Side Kick Back Differ
| What differs | Leg Curl | Side Kick Back |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | hamstrings and calves | outer thighs |
| Equipment | a machine | bodyweight only |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 1 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 39,860 sessions | 822 sessions |
How to 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 Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
- 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!
How to Side Kick Back
Side Kick Back muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Raise one leg while keeping the knee at a 90-degree angle, parallel to the ground.
- 2. Slowly return to the starting position.
- 3. Proceed one side at a time or alternately.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Keep your chest up to avoid bending your waist and engage your core.
- 2. Be careful not to bend your elbows.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Side Kick Back, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Side Kick Back Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Leg Curl or Side Kick Back?
Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 sessions against 822 for Side Kick Back. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Leg Curl and Side Kick Back work the same muscles?
Not quite. Leg Curl loads hamstrings and calves, and Side Kick Back loads outer thighs.
What equipment do Leg Curl and Side Kick Back need?
Leg Curl needs a machine, and Side Kick Back needs bodyweight only.
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