Side Lunge vs Standing Leg Curl
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Standing Leg Curl is the easier place to start — difficulty 1 of 5 vs 2. Compare Leg form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Side Lunge and Standing Leg Curl for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Side Lunge vs Standing Leg Curl : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Side Lunge more often — 2,021 sessions compared to 1,989 for Standing Leg Curl.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Side Lunge and Standing Leg Curl differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Side Lunge and Standing Leg Curl Differ
| What differs | Side Lunge | Standing Leg Curl |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads, glutes, and outer thighs | hamstrings and calves |
| Equipment | bodyweight only | a machine |
| Difficulty | 2 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 2,021 sessions | 1,989 sessions |
How to Side Lunge
Side Lunge muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Move one foot to the side and shift your weight.
- 2. Bend the knee of the moved leg and keep the opposite leg straight.
- 3. Apply pressure to the center of the bent knee and slowly rise back to the starting position.
- 4. Repeat the same on the opposite side.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body forward.
- 2. Please make sure that your center of gravity does not shift too much to the side.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Side Lunge, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Side Lunge Guide page of our blog!
How to Standing Leg Curl
Standing Leg Curl muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Engage the muscles in the back of your thigh and buttocks of the extended leg, and lift until your knee is at a 90-degree angle.
- 2. Lower only until your knee is fully extended while resisting the weight.
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 Standing Leg Curl, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Standing Leg Curl Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Side Lunge or Standing Leg Curl?
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 Side Lunge and Standing Leg Curl work the same muscles?
Not quite. Side Lunge loads quads, glutes, and outer thighs, and Standing Leg Curl loads hamstrings and calves.
What equipment do Side Lunge and Standing Leg Curl need?
Side Lunge needs bodyweight only, and Standing Leg Curl needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Standing Leg Curl is the easier place to start. Move to Side Lunge once your form holds up.
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