Leg exercises, Standing hip flexion, Seated leg curl – Bowflex Ultimate User Manual

Page 55

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Leg Exercises

Muscles worked: This exercise primarily develops

and strengthens the muscles on the front of

your hips (iliopsoas and rectus femoris) that are

primarily responsible for bending or flexing your

hips.

Pulley position: Narrow.

Starting position:

• Remove the bench.

• Stand on the base platform, facing away from the

Power Rods

®

, on one side of the bench.

• Secure the cuff around the leg farthest from the

rail, just above or just below the knee.

• Straighten, but do not lock, the knee of your

support leg.

• Keep your spine in good posture with your chest

lifted, abs tight and maintain a very slight arch in

your lower back.

Motion:

• Initiate the movement by lifting your knee up and

in toward your torso.

• Allowing the knee to bend as you move, bring

your knee upward as far as you can, without

allowing ANY movement to occur at your waist or

lower back.

• Slowly return to the starting position without

resting your leg muscles.

Key points:

• Make sure all of your motion occurs at your hip,

NOT your waist or lower back.

• Keep your chest lifted and trunk muscles tight

throughout the entire exercise.

• Allow your lower leg to hang in the direction of

the cable at all times.

Standing Hip Flexion

With knee flexion

Muscles worked: This exercise emphasizes

the hamstring muscle group (biceps femoris,

semimembranosus, semitendinosus) on the back

of the thigh.

Pulley position: Narrow.

Starting position:

• Remove the bench, unlock the seat.

• Attach one end of the belt to a pulley, sit on the

seat facing away from the Power Rods

®

, position

the belt around your midsection and then attach

the free end of the belt to the other pulley.

• Move forward and secure your heels over the rail

support at the end of the unit.

• Lift your chest, tighten your abdominals and

maintain a very slight arch in your lower back.

Motion:

• Slowly bend your knees, pulling yourself forward

toward your feet.

• Slowly allow your legs to straighten and return to

the starting position.

Key points:

• Make sure that you straighten your legs under

control, do not allow your knees to hyper-extend.

• Keep your chest lifted, abs tight and maintain a

very slight arch in your lower back.

Seated Leg Curl

Knee Flexion with Hip Flexion

FINISH

START

FINISH

START

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