Aerobics & Hamstring Curls

A hamstring curl can be used during aerobic exercises. Aerobic means with oxygen, so you will be continuously moving as you perform this curl, unlike a strength-training hamstring curl in which you take rests between exercise sets.

Hamstring Curl

Your hamstring is a muscle on the top of the back of your leg. When you lift, curl, your foot toward your backside, your hamstring contracts to allow your knee to bend and your foot to lift. To consider this movement aerobic, it should be performed at a quick pace and without breaks in between. Aerobic exercise increases your heart rate and you can increase your heart rate as you alternate legs and perform hamstring curls.

Group Exercise

You might find a hamstring curl used during a group exercise class. Sometimes referred to as a butt kick, this exercise can be used as part of a warm-up routine to prepare your body for a challenging workout. Standing on the floor, you perform a butt kick with your legs spaced wider than shoulder-distance apart. From this position, shift your weight onto your right leg and bend your left leg to bring your left foot toward your butt and then immediately place the left foot on the floor and lift your right foot behind you. You can add arm pull-ins to this movement to increase the aerobic workload by straightening your arms in front of your waist and then pulling your hands to your hips as your elbows reach behind your body.

Step Aerobics

Hamstring curls are a common workout move included in step aerobic classes. The curl is performed by stepping your right foot onto the bench and bending your left knee to raise your left foot toward your backside. Your left foot returns to the floor and is followed by the right foot. Your left foot steps onto the bench and you perform the curl with your right leg. Perform three curls on your right leg before stepping down and continuing on your left leg.

Water Aerobics

A hamstring curl can be used during water exercises. Often referred to as a heel touch, a hamstring curl moves you forward through the water at a quick pace to keep your heart rate elevated. In the water you will bound forward onto your right foot as you lift your left heel toward your backside and then bound forward onto your left foot as you lift your right heel behind you. Your opposite hand reaches behind your body toward the lifted heel, so your torso performs a slight side bend during the exercise.