Fitness & exercise  Exercise library  Legs  Leg press

Leg press

COURTESY OF GLOBAL FITNESS

Major muscles used

• Quadriceps
• Glutes
• Hamstrings

Performing the leg press

• Sit in a leg press machine with your feet on the platform in front of you.
• Your feet should be about hip-width apart.
• Grasp the handles at your sides and lean back in the chair. Keep your back straight and abdominals tight.
• Push forward on the platform extending your legs in front of you, keeping your legs slightly bent at the knees.
• Slowly lower the weight (platform) towards your body until your knees are bent at about a 90 degree angle, or until your thighs touch your chest.
• Return the weight (platform) to the starting positing by pushing the weight up until your legs are almost straight.

Be careful

• Don't let your legs come so far back that they spread apart.
• Don't lock your knees so that your legs become straight when pushing the weight up. Alternative exercises

Alternative exercises to the leg press