Bodytone FH53 seated leg curl, selectorised hamstring machine

Description

The Bodytone FH53 is a selectorised seated leg curl that flexes the knee with the hip held in flexion, isolating the semitendinosus and the semimembranosus from the biceps femoris. The seated position keeps the hamstring lengthened at the hip while it shortens at the knee, which loads the medial hamstrings differently from a prone curl and is the reason many clubs install both. At 273 kg it is the heaviest of the selectorised upper and lower limb stations in this batch, and it is specified for commercial clubs, sports academies, physiotherapy practices and corporate fitness rooms.

Technical specification

Installation and structural checks

273 kg is a figure to take seriously at the survey stage. Confirm the permissible floor loading of the slab or the floor structure at the intended position before the order is placed, and check that the delivery route, including lift capacity and door widths, can accept a crated unit of that mass. Once installed the machine is effectively fixed furniture.

The 126 x 149 cm base is deeper than it is wide because the shin lever and the thigh restraint extend forward of the seat. Access is from the side of the seat, so leave a clear approach on the entry side and free space in front of the lever travel. Height is 162 cm.

Servicing centres on the thigh restraint pad, which is the component members adjust at every use and which takes the reaction force of the whole set; verify that it locks positively at each notch. Beyond that, inspect the cable and pulleys, the knee axis pivot, the seat back position and the selector pin, and clean the pads with a neutral cleaner.

Stack configuration

Standard 107 kg stack, 134 kg option. Hamstring strength is a recognised factor in sprint and change of direction injury prevention, so clubs serving football, rugby or athletics populations frequently take the extended stack; general fitness, hotel and clinical sites are well covered by the standard configuration and its 7 kg steps.

Frequently asked questions

Seated or prone leg curl, which should I buy first?

If only one is possible, the choice depends on the population. The seated FH53 is easier to get into and out of for older or less mobile users and needs no lying down, while the prone FH55 puts the hip in extension. Clubs with a sports performance focus generally install both.

What does the thigh restraint do?

It holds the thighs down so the user cannot lift the hips to help the curl. Without it, the load migrates to the glutes and the lower back and the movement stops isolating the hamstrings.

Which hamstring muscles does the seated position emphasise?

With the hip flexed, the movement isolates the semitendinosus and the semimembranosus, the medial hamstrings, relative to the biceps femoris. That is the specific reason the seated curl is not simply a more convenient version of the prone curl.

Request a quotation for the Bodytone FH53, or browse the complete range of strength training machines.