Exercise Ball Hamstring curls (arms in front)


Starting Position
  • This dynamic ball exercise requires you to start in the supine bridging position, on your back with heels resting on the ball.
  • Arms are over your chest. You can keep your elbows off the floor to add a level difficulty.
  • Engage your abdominal muscles through abdominal hollowing.
  • Lift your hips toward the ceiling so that you are straight from your heels to your shoulders
Action
  • Pull your heels toward your buttocks.
  • Slowly return to the straight legged position all the while maintaining your lower back in a neutral position.
  • Do not lock your knees.
Prime Movers
  • Hamstrings, glutes, back extensors

    • Physio Tips
    • Be sure to activate transversus abdominus prior to any leg movement to avoid back injury.
    Progression This ball exercise is more difficult than the hamstring curl with arms out to the sides because your base of support is a little smaller. You can make your base of support increasingly smaller by raising your arms straight up toward the ceiling, or by adding more air to your ball, or both.

    Be sure you can master the static bridging exercises before attempting anything dynamic. You need to be able to control your spinal position without any limb movement before you should add any limb movement. Remember, these exercises have more to do with control than brute strength. The more control you have over the positioning of your spinal joints during an exercise the less likely you are of putting those joints into a position where they will be injured.

    1ballsRepeat this ball exercise 10 times.

    2ballsRepeat this ball exercise 20 times.

    3ballsRepeat this ball exercise 30 times.

       Return to the top of Hamstring Curls with the Exercise Ball

    Beginner

    Intermediate

    Advanced