How to Do a Jefferson Curl

Co-authored by Alphonso White

Last Updated: March 5, 2021 References

The Jefferson curl is a fitness move that is supposed to help strengthen and lengthen the posterior chain. It helps build your lower back and hamstrings while increasing your mobility and flexibility in your spine.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Alphonso White
Certified Personal Trainer, CompleteBody NYC
Expert Interview. 24 February 2021.} This move can be done by anyone, but you should start with a lower weight and work on form. People who train their lower body frequently will especially benefit from learning this move. This includes dancers, gymnasts, powerlifters, and rugby players.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Performing the Movement

1
Stand on an elevated surface. To complete a Jefferson curl, you need to stand on a stable surface that is elevated. You can use a box, bench, or elevated mats.
- If you're just beginning, you may not need a platform at all. Practice doing the move without a platform first.
2
Start in a standing position. The starting position for a Jefferson curl is standing straight up. Your chest should be lifted and your shoulders should be back. Stand straight with your feet hip width apart. As you get better at this move, you can start to press your legs together.^{[2]
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- Hold a hand weight, kettlebell, or light barbell. You can also do this with nothing in your hands and just use your body weight as you curl forward.
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3
Roll down towards the floor. Lower your chin to your chest. Slowly start bending down as you round and flex your spine to roll one vertebra down at a time.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Alphonso White
Certified Personal Trainer, CompleteBody NYC
Expert Interview. 24 February 2021.} Don’t just bend at the hip. Keep your arms straight and hanging down in front of you.^{[4]
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- As you do this, it might help to imagine yourself lifting and stretching each vertebra apart like a beaded necklace that is being pulled.
- The light weight should help pull you down towards the floor.^{[5]
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  Alphonso White
  Certified Personal Trainer, CompleteBody NYC
  Expert Interview. 24 February 2021.} Keep your weight on the ball of your foot and avoid leaning back.
4
Find the flattest spot of your spine. Once you are hanging completely down, ask another person to help you find the flat part of your back. Try to pull your belly button towards your back from this area. Alternately, you can try to get your nose to touch your knees.^{[6]
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- Keep breathing during the movement.
- Film yourself if you cannot find a partner to help you find the flat of your back.
5
Sink as far down as you can. As you try to press your belly button to your spine, bend forward. Go only as far as your body will comfortably allow; your range of motion will increase over time. Keep your legs completely straight. Don’t let them bend because this takes away from the stretch in your back.^{[7]
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- Bending too far forward can cause your back to strain when you roll back up. Go slowly, and don't push too far at first.
- When first starting this exercise, do not reach below your feet. Instead, work your way up to this point slowly. Overexerting yourself too early can cause injuries such as torn hamstrings, a torn Achilles tendon, or compressed disks.
6
Come up slowly. To stand back up, slowly reverse what you just did. Focus on lifting the lower back, the middle back, and then the upper back. Let one vertebra at a time come up.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Alphonso White
Certified Personal Trainer, CompleteBody NYC
Expert Interview. 24 February 2021.} Continue pressing your chin to the chest, only lifting your head when you are standing straight up.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Putting Together a Routine

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Complete four or five reps. Jefferson curls are great for stretching out the muscles in the back side of your body. It helps stretch the glutes, hamstrings, lower back, and sides. You will get the most benefit from this exercise when you do it correctly and in a slow, controlled manner.^{[10]
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2
Start with a low weight. Because the movement is meant to stretch, you don’t want to use a lot of weight at first. If you’ve never tried this move before, start with body weight and just bend over empty handed. As you get used to the movement, you can consider adding five pound (2.2 kg) hand weights and then move up to a 10 pound (4.5 kg) kettlebell.^{[11]
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3
Increase your weight every few months. You won’t be able to add weight to a Jefferson curl as often as you might with a traditional strength training lift. However, you do want to add weight to it to help increase your mobility and strength. Try adding five to ten pounds to your curl every two to three months that you train.^{[12]
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- You do not have to increase your weight at all. You can get great benefits from using your body weight.
4
Stop if you feel any pain. This move should feel relaxing and you should feel a slight stretch in your posterior chain. If you feel any pain or discomfort in any part of your lower back or spine area, stop. This may point to an injury.^{[13]
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Expert Q&A

Question

What's the right form for a Jefferson curl?

Alphonso White
Certified Personal Trainer, CompleteBody NYC
Alphonso White is a Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach at CompleteBody in New York City. With over 20 years of experience in the personal fitness industry, Alphonso specializes in fat loss, toning, and functional training. As an ACE Certified Personal Trainer (ACE-CPT), he creates structured, personal workout plans geared towards short and long-term fitness goals. Alphonso also holds a BS in Nutrition and Exercise Science from Queens College and is a Black Belt in Seido Karate.

Alphonso White

Certified Personal Trainer, CompleteBody NYC

Expert Answer

Stand up tall with your knees locked out and hold a pair of dumbbells against the front of your thighs. Begin to roll forward by tucking your chin against your chest, then continue folding forward one vertebra at a time, flexing through your spine. Allow the weight of the dumbbells to pull you forward until you reach the end of your hamstring's flexibility range. Maintain a locked knee position, pause, then slowly return to the upright position and repeat.
Question

What does a Jefferson curl work?

Alphonso White
Certified Personal Trainer, CompleteBody NYC
Alphonso White is a Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach at CompleteBody in New York City. With over 20 years of experience in the personal fitness industry, Alphonso specializes in fat loss, toning, and functional training. As an ACE Certified Personal Trainer (ACE-CPT), he creates structured, personal workout plans geared towards short and long-term fitness goals. Alphonso also holds a BS in Nutrition and Exercise Science from Queens College and is a Black Belt in Seido Karate.

Alphonso White

Certified Personal Trainer, CompleteBody NYC

Expert Answer

The Jefferson curl is an exercise to work on spinal flexion and hamstring flexibility.

Warnings

It is important to do this move slowly and with correct form. If you do not, injuries such as back strain or torn tendons, can occur.

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