Exercise Comparison
Ball Leg Curl vs Leg-Up Hamstring Stretch
Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Ball Leg Curl
Instructions
Ball Leg Curl
Begin on the floor laying on your back with your feet on top of the ball.
Position the ball so that when your legs are extended your ankles are on top of the ball. This will be your starting position.
Raise your hips off of the ground, keeping your weight on the shoulder blades and your feet.
Flex the knees, pulling the ball as close to you as you can, contracting the hamstrings.
After a brief pause, return to the starting position.
Leg-Up Hamstring Stretch
Lie flat on your back, bend one knee, and put that foot flat on the floor to stabilize your spine.
Extend the other leg in the air. If you're tight, you wont be able to straighten it. That's okay. Extend the knee so that the sole of the lifted foot faces the ceiling (or as close as you can get it).
Slowly straighten the legs as much as possible and then pull the leg toward your nose. Switch sides.
Verdict
Both exercises target the hamstrings. Ball Leg Curl is a beginner exercise using exercise ball, while Leg-Up Hamstring Stretch is beginner and uses none. Choose Ball Leg Curl if you have access to exercise ball, or Leg-Up Hamstring Stretch if you prefer none.