Leg curls with dumbbell.

[adamgentile]

For the home gym crew. I have a squat rack and do squats, SLDL, lunges, RDL, etc. But don't have a machine to do leg extensions/curls. But just recently started doing leg curls with a dumbbell, I really feel the movement and isolation. Can these be as affective as using a curl machine?

[PlantBasedBeast]

I don't know if that is exactly the same as the curl machine but that can be a good isolation exercise for the hamstrings... It sounds like you're doing all the right moves for the hamstrings in-home! Have you tried doing hamstring curls with your feet on a stability ball? You can also do them single leg to kick up the intensity!

[ironwill2008]

For the home gym crew. I have a squat rack and do squats, SLDL, lunges, RDL, etc. But don't have a machine to do leg extensions/curls. But just recently started doing leg curls with a dumbbell, I really feel the movement and isolation. Can these be as affective as using a curl machine?

Sure.

[sooby]

yes

[RK42]

The advantage of the machine is that you have the same resistance for the whole ROM. With the dumbbell, the resistance is maximal when the legs are horizontal, and then tails off until reaching zero when the lower legs are vertical.

So at least theoretically, I think the machine is superior in this case. But it's just an assistance exercise. If I didn't have a machine available, I would use a dumbbell, and not worry about it. One of these things that's probably not significant in the big picture.

[cmacken]

I recommend using a stability ball for hamstring curls or a resistance ban tied around your ankle