Leg Press

Leg Press is a compound strength exercise using machine that trains the quadriceps.

Open in MyoAmigo →

StrengthMachineBeginnerCompoundPush

Primary muscles: Quadriceps

Secondary muscles: Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings

How to do it

  1. Using a leg press machine, sit down on the machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at a medium (shoulder width) foot stance. (Note: For the purposes of this discussion we will use the medium stance described above which targets overall development; however you can choose any of the three stances described in the foot positioning section).
  2. Lower the safety bars holding the weighted platform in place and press the platform all the way up until your legs are fully extended in front of you. Tip: Make sure that you do not lock your knees. Your torso and the legs should make a perfect 90-degree angle. This will be your starting position.
  3. As you inhale, slowly lower the platform until your upper and lower legs make a 90-degree angle.
  4. Pushing mainly with the heels of your feet and using the quadriceps go back to the starting position as you exhale.
  5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions and ensure to lock the safety pins properly once you are done. You do not want that platform falling on you fully loaded.

Track it with MyoAmigo

MyoAmigo pre-fills every set of the Leg Press from last time, charts your estimated 1RM trend so you can see strength move without testing a true max, and flags a stall with a concrete fix. It also credits this work toward your weekly Quadriceps volume on the MyoMap heatmap. New to the movement? Start with picking a working weight and progressive overload.

Related Quadriceps exercises

Machine

Air Bike (machine)

Body Only

All Fours Quad Stretch

Plyometrics

Alternate Leg Diagonal Bound

Other

Backward Drag

Barbell

Barbell Full Squat

Barbell

Barbell Hack Squat

Barbell

Barbell Lunge

Barbell

Barbell Side Split Squat

Barbell

Barbell Squat

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