Leg Press

The leg press is a compound exercise for your leg muscles - particularly your quads.

One benefit of the leg press is that it allows you to go really heavy without placing undue stress on your back. The back of the leg press machine provides you with excellent back support.

 

How to perform the leg press

Technique
  1. Sit in the leg press machine with your feet about shoulder width apart
  2. Release the bars
  3. Push the plate away from you until your legs are straight
  4. Return to starting position (or slightly higher)
  5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 until you've repeated the desired number of reps
Number of Reps For building muscle size: 3 sets of between 6 - 8 reps. For muscle tone: 3 sets of between 12 - 15 reps.

By placing your feet wider, you emphasise your hamstrings. Narrower, and you emphasise your quads.

 

Muscles Used

Primary Muscles
  • Quadriceps (Front Thigh/Quads)
Secondary Muscles

  • Gluteus Maximus (Butt)
  • Adductor Magnus (Inner Thigh)
  • Soleus (Calf)
Stabilizer Muscles
  • Hamstrings (Rear thigh)
  • Gastrocnemius (Calf)

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