Seated vs Lying leg curl

[Gym-Rat]

I'm not a purist either way. Some machines feel invaluable depending on why you're training. I always got a kick out of pros' training articles in the mags and how many of them said they believed in free weights only and then you looked at the article and it's 90% machines. Smith machine, low pulley rows, leg press, leg extention, leg curls, triceps pulley pushdowns, cable curls, calf machines etc. Like what the hell were they talking about lol? I remember Levrone was one and there were tons of others.

That said, during the time I've been posting here over so many years, 90% of my training has been deadlifts, good mornings, squats. The gym has a powerlifting platform, a powerrack from 70s, numerous top of the line bars and a ton of Eleiko plates. I was almost satisfied with just that. A few 70s or 80s machines like lying leg curl and calf machines and pulley stations. I just want to feel some weight, fuck balanced bodybuilding lol. But I often did miss some nice machines for "touchup" training, rehab/prehab, bodybuilding type stuff. So periodically I trained maybe once a week at a secondary "bodybuilding gym." Seriously, I've gone months doing nothing but deadlifts and good mornings with a little squats plus maybe 1 or 2 small assistance exercises thrown in every other week. Who trains like this lol? What's it called? Fuck, doesn't make much of difference in my physique anyway with my genes. Past few years I had some illnesses and injuries so I was more at the bodybuilding gym but it's not as satisfying as pulling some damn weight. 

Great info. I also love heavy barbell training, always have. I do "get" the machine thing as one ages, injuries, or even for some finishing/hypertrophy stuff.
Not many people are getting big/strong using single-joint cables alone, sorry.

The other thing for "all machines" is you are spending the entire workout sitting on your butt. Dont get me wrong, there are some amazing machines, and I love many of them.
I just think, most bang for the buck, heavy barbell, multi-joint movements. To each his own though for those who enjoy mostly machines, that is the way you should train, as youll put the most into it.

Do what you love doing...

[ThisisOverload]

Machines have their place for sure. There are several Hammer Strength row variations that i really enjoy. Cable machines are great for just about everything. There is a chest press machine that i do all the time to finish off my pecs. It has a nice plane of motion.

But for me it's all about DB's. I use them for just about everything. Just the freedom of motion for me makes them a great option.

Obviously for legs i use a lot of BB front squats and lunges.

But if there is a way to do an exercise with DB's, that's what i do.

[Henda]

Yes. Have you tried the seated leg curl? The machines are gimmicky I agree. But a lot of seated curls make you feel much less stable. I really like the way you can lock the pad under your knees real tight. I sometimes use Hammer seated and it feel like you're moving around a lot, just feels less stable. Here all energy goes into contracting the hams, almost feels dangerous how hard you can contract the hams.

Our gym has 2 hammer seated curls the plate load one is shit doesent have the bit to lock down on the upper thigh feel it hard to keep hips down with heavier weight but the pin load one does have the lock down but and is so much better. Hate seated leg curls thst don’t have it

[Henda]

On the subject of shit gym machine brands I found the techno gym gear at last gym to be absolute dogshit. The hack squat was awkward as fuck especially at the bottom of the motion
Leg press bottoms out before hit full depth. Smith machine frame built with 4 inch thick tube yet the bar itself was the flimsiest piece of shit ever with plastic ends where the plate goes. A few of the machines were good but most were awkward feeling pieces of absolute shit

[joswift]

standing single leg curls for the win, you can really isolate the muscle.

Only problem I have with the one at the gym is that I can rep out with a full stack no issues.

Im going to have to work out how to add weight to the stack

[Henda]

standing single leg curls for the win, you can really isolate the muscle.

Only problem I have with the one at the gym is that I can rep out with a full stack no issues.

Im going to have to work out how to add weight to the stack

Those gym pins look decent mate if they fit the stack around the shroud ect

[Hulkotron]

kneeling leg curl

The gym at the local university has one of these.  I like it but it’s just a pretty big/heavy machine for such a specific single-joint motion / relatively light resistance.  Takes up a ton of floor space.

[joswift]

Those gym pins look decent mate if they fit the stack around the shroud ect

ta pal, its an open weight stack, should be able to add an extra plate to the stack with another pin

like this but there is only 45 kilo on the fucking thing

[Henda]

ta pal, its an open weight stack, should be able to add an extra plate to the stack with another pin

like this but there is only 45 kilo on the fucking thing

Haha makes you question why they would design a machine thrn only our a 45 kg stack on
Should be easy with no shroud mate
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZKfJ6EPhdz/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[JackTheRipper]

standing single leg curls for the win, you can really isolate the muscle.

Only problem I have with the one at the gym is that I can rep out with a full stack no issues.

Im going to have to work out how to add weight to the stack

So why is it better isolation than lying or sitting? Gravity? If you know what I mean,  straight up and down movement. I mean people did these in the old days with iron boots.

[Spike]

On the subject of shit gym machine brands I found the techno gym gear at last gym to be absolute dogshit. The hack squat was awkward as fuck especially at the bottom of the motion
Leg press bottoms out before hit full depth. Smith machine frame built with 4 inch thick tube yet the bar itself was the flimsiest piece of shit ever with plastic ends where the plate goes. A few of the machines were good but most were awkward feeling pieces of absolute shit

THE BEST hack squat machine I have used hands down is Arsenal strength

a lot of diff adjustments that enable proper angles - I train a lot of quad dominant bodybuilding high reps style

[joswift]

So why is it better isolation than lying or sitting? Gravity? If you know what I mean,  straight up and down movement. I mean people did these in the old days with iron boots.

I just feel the muscle more doing one leg at a time, I feel lying down with both legs aggravates my low back

[deadz]

Prefer seated, lying puts strain on my lower back.

[ThisisOverload]

So why is it better isolation than lying or sitting? Gravity? If you know what I mean,  straight up and down movement. I mean people did these in the old days with iron boots.

Biomechanics.

Certain angles and planes of motion just target certain areas more.

That doesn't mean you will see more gains, but you will feel it more.

Just like placing bands behind your knees and attaching them in front of you. It makes doing squats completely different. It's more for balance and physical therapy, but you will be sore in areas you never knew existed.

[JackTheRipper]

Biomechanics.

Certain angles and planes of motion just target certain areas more.

That doesn't mean you will see more gains, but you will feel it more.

Just like placing bands behind your knees and attaching them in front of you. It makes doing squats completely different. It's more for balance and physical therapy, but you will be sore in areas you never knew existed.

This is not new, hence why people use sissy squats and use a sissy squat bench in the gym. Personally I used no bench for them leaning back the old school way.

[JackTheRipper]

[ThisisOverload]

This is not new, hence why people use sissy squats and use a sissy squat bench in the gym. Personally I used no bench for them leaning back the old school way.

Yeah i didn't say it was new.

Just giving an example of biomechanics and how getting a good "feeling" doesn't equal growth.

Sissy squats will make you sore in places you never knew about, but you won't get much out of them other than that.

[CalvinH]

Biomechanics.

Certain angles and planes of motion just target certain areas more.

That doesn't mean you will see more gains, but you will feel it more.

Just like placing bands behind your knees and attaching them in front of you. It makes doing squats completely different. It's more for balance and physical therapy, but you will be sore in areas you never knew existed.

That looks like a accident waiting to happen for me

....But I'm going to try it next leg day

[IroNat]

How about Portuguese Squats?

Very close to Spanish.

[Cook]

How about Portuguese Squats?

Very close to Spanish.

I think they do those in Brazil

[Van_Bilderass]

Yeah i didn't say it was new.

Just giving an example of biomechanics and how getting a good "feeling" doesn't equal growth.

Sissy squats will make you sore in places you never knew about, but you won't get much out of them other than that.

There's this guy on IG who says not to go by sensation in the muscle necessarily and what you feel is not always what you think you're feeling. For example the abductor machine is not a glute exercise, the glute is not what you think you're feeling and what gets pumped. Sumo stance is not more glutes than narrow stance, like in deadlifts. And so on.
And he has a somehow different definition of mind-muscle connection.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChHqzcWuX8_/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

I think he's probably right and just because you feel the muscle "peak contracting" doesn't necessarily mean it's the best exercise for the job.

[IroNat]

Try These 4 Leg Curl Tricks

https://www.t-nation.com/training/tip-try-these-4-leg-curl-tricks/

[Henda]

THE BEST hack squat machine I have used hands down is Arsenal strength

a lot of diff adjustments that enable proper angles - I train a lot of quad dominant bodybuilding high reps style

that looks like a great hack squat a lot of the arsenal strength stuff looks great think it may be a long while before any gym around here has it as I imagine it’s costly
We have a cybex hack at our gym it looks tiny compared to most hacks but feels ok nothing adjusts though

New gym has decent selection of leg training gear though
45 degree leg press
Horizontal pivot leg press
Horizontal unilateral pivot leg press
Hack squat
V squat
Belt squat
Pendulum squat
Pin load leg press
Pin load seated leg curl
Pin load lying leg curl
Pin load leg extension
Plate load standing leg curl
Plate load seated leg curl
Plate load lying leg curl
Plate load leg extention

Also has 3 plate load and 2 pin load calf machines

[joswift]

that looks like a great hack squat a lot of the arsenal strength stuff looks great think it may be a long while before any gym around here has it as I imagine it’s costly
We have a cybex hack at our gym it looks tiny compared to most hacks but feels ok nothing adjusts though

New gym has decent selection of leg training gear though
45 degree leg press
Horizontal pivot leg press
Horizontal unilateral pivot leg press
Hack squat
V squat
Belt squat
Pendulum squat
Pin load leg press
Pin load seated leg curl
Pin load lying leg curl
Pin load leg extension
Plate load standing leg curl
Plate load seated leg curl
Plate load lying leg curl
Plate load leg extention

Also has 3 plate load and 2 pin load calf machines

the incline isnt that good
the higher the incline the harder it is
Why buy a machine like that then have to buy a pile of plates as well

[Henda]

the incline isnt that good
the higher the incline the harder it is
Why buy a machine like that then have to buy a pile of plates as well

I never noticed the low incline looks a canny bit lower than the usual 45 degrees