7 Best Banded Hamstring Exercises for Building Leg Strength
Resistance bands provide an effective, affordable way to strengthen your hamstrings at home. These exercises target the three main hamstring muscles: biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus, which are crucial for hip extension, knee flexion, and injury prevention.
Banded hamstring stretch with resistance band
Benefits of Banded Hamstring Training:
- Continuous variable tension for better muscle activation
- Promotes muscle growth and strength gains
- Versatile exercise options
- Convenient for home or travel workouts
7 Best Banded Hamstring Exercises:
- Lying Hamstring Curl
- Lie face down
- Attach band to ankle
- Curl heel toward buttocks
- Control the return movement
- Romanian Deadlift
- Stand on band's center
- Hinge at hips
- Keep back straight
- Lower until hands pass knees
- Drive hips forward to return
- Nordic Hamstring Curl
- Anchor band at height
- Kneel with secured ankles
- Lower torso to 45 degrees
- Pull back to start position
- Seated Hamstring Curl
- Sit facing anchor point
- Band around feet
- Curl legs back
- Control the return
- Donkey Kickback
- Loop band above ankles
- Kick leg back and up
- Hold briefly at top
- Return controlled
- Single Leg Romanian Deadlift
- Stand on band with one foot
- Hinge forward while lifting rear leg
- Lower until hands reach below knee
- Return to start
- Band Pull Through
- Center band under feet
- Grab handles
- Hinge at hips
- Return controlled
Training Tips:
- Train hamstrings twice weekly
- Allow 48 hours between sessions
- Perform 10 sets per workout
- Vary reps between 6-20
- Progress gradually with band resistance
Sample Workout:
- Lying Hamstring Curl: 3 sets (20/15/10 reps)
- Romanian Deadlift: 3 x 15 reps
- Donkey Kickback: 3 x 12 each leg