ACSM Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam

What movement does the prone leg curl primarily facilitate?

1. Knee extension

2. Knee flexion

3. Hip flexion

4. Shoulder flexion

The correct answer is: Knee flexion

The prone leg curl primarily facilitates knee flexion. This exercise is performed while lying face down, with the feet positioned underneath a lever arm. As the exerciser bends their knees to bring their heels toward their glutes, the hamstring muscles are activated, which are responsible for the flexion of the knee joint. Knee flexion is a critical movement for various functional activities, enhancing strength and stability in the lower body. This motion not only contributes to athletic performance, specifically in sports requiring sprinting and jumping, but also aids in daily movements like walking and climbing stairs. In contrast, the other movements listed—knee extension, hip flexion, and shoulder flexion—do not accurately describe the primary action involved in the prone leg curl, focusing instead on movements related to different joints and muscle groups. For instance, knee extension involves straightening the leg at the knee (utilizing the quadriceps), hip flexion pertains to raising the thigh towards the torso (involving the hip flexor muscles), and shoulder flexion is about raising the arm forward, which engages different muscle groups altogether.