Why hasn't the science-based lifting crowd started doing Nordic curls?

This is the exercise for those unfamiliar

Nordics are not exactly unknown in the sport/track scene but is rarely (if ever) used in a bodybuilding setting

I'm no exercise scientist but it seems like it checks all the boxes from a hypertrophy standpoint (provided you're strong enough to do them unassisted)

  • High stimulus-to-fatigue ratio
  • Lengthened/stretched bias
  • Extreme eccentric stimulus (unlike machines which provide helpful eccentric resistance)
  • Very stable, allow for full focus on the target muscle
  • Time-efficient

They are one of few bodyweight exercises that you will probably never have to worry about going into endurance territory

Edit:

Dr. Mike seems to have very recently covered a study that directly compared eccentric-emphasis seated leg curls (by doing one legged eccentric, two-legged concentric) and Nordic eccentric-only curls in untrained individuals.

The evidence appears to point to there being worse hypertrophy in 3 of the 4 hamstring heads in nordic curls (all except one of the heads of the biceps femoris, which isn’t stretched in hip flexion, can’t recall which) as a few suspected in the comments.

Thus, full ROM Nordic curls are probably somewhere between lying and seated leg curls in terms of pure hypertrophic stimulus to someone who isn’t well trained in either lifts.

Still a great exercise for those looking for novel stimulus/rehabilitation/athleticism or just for the challenge and fun, just not quite as good as seated leg curls if you’re not well trained in either for those purely concerned with muscle growth.