The leg press is a popular piece of gym equipment that can help build key muscles in your legs. There are two leg press machines commonly found in gyms and home gyms: the standard horizontal leg press and the 45-degree leg press, with a seat that reclines at an angle while your legs press upward in a diagonal direction.
Both machines develop the quadriceps and hamstrings of the thigh and the gluteus (buttocks). While it seems like a simple exercise, it’s essential to learn how to use it properly. Paying attention to your form can maximize the strength-building benefits and prevent injury. The leg press is used as part of a leg strengthening routine or a machine circuit workout.How to Do the Leg Press
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Leg Press Benefits
You can obtain some of the quadriceps-developing advantages of a barbell squat with the leg press machine. It also helps to improve the calves, hamstrings, and gluteus maximus.How to Do the Leg Press
One benefit of the leg press machine is that you can emphasize different muscles by varying your leg press foot position. It builds strength in these muscles, and you can use it to overcome imbalances, such as overly developed hamstrings, compared to quadriceps.How to Do the Leg Press
Although the leg press mimics the barbell squat, it reduces the force on your core, making it less of a full-body exercise. This can be beneficial if you add the leg press to your routine as an accessory to squats. Doing so will allow you to continue adding volume to your quadriceps and other leg press muscles worked without causing the additional fatigue that loading a barbell on your spine creates.How to Do the Leg Press
Enhancing your quadriceps strength can improve your squat performance by fortifying the muscles required for advancement. Including the leg press could be beneficial if you discover that your barbell squat strength has plateaued.
Using a seated leg press machine may also help increase your balance and stability, especially if you are a beginner at lifting heavy weights. Some people are not ready to use a barbell for squatting until they are accustomed to lifting heavy weights with their legs in a way that increases balance and stability of the core and legs in a safe manner, such as with the leg press.How to Do the Leg Press
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Step-by-Step Instructions
When you sit down at a seated leg press machine, your body should be in a particular position. Sit on the machine with your back and head resting comfortably against the padded support. Place your feet on the footplate about hip-width apart while ensuring that your heels are flat.
Your bottom should be flat against the seat rather than raised. Your legs should form an angle of about 90 degrees at the knees. Your glutes will be overworked if your feet are too high on the plate, and your knees will be overworked if they are too low. Your knees should not be bent inward or outward; instead, they should be parallel to your feet.How to Do the Leg Press
Be careful to maintain this alignment while you press. Holding onto the assist handles will help to support and maintain the alignment of your head and spine.How to Do the Leg Press
- Brace your abdominal muscles and push the platform away with your heels and forefoot. Your heels should remain flat on the footplate. The front of your foot or toes should never be used exclusively to move the pad forward.
- While exhaling, extend your legs and keep your head and back flat against the seat pad. Extend with slow control rather than with an explosive movement.
- Pause at the top of the movement. Do not lock out your knees, and ensure that they are not bowing out or in.
- While inhaling, return the footplate to the starting position by gradually bending the knees. Keep the feet and back flat throughout.
- If you have never done leg presses, start modestly with three sets of 10 leg presses. You can advance from there as you build strength.
Leg Press Common Mistakes
It is essential to ensure proper form to get the most out of your leg press routine. To ensure you are doing the leg press safely, avoid these errors.How to Do the Leg Press
Too Much Weight
One of the most significant factors is ensuring you’re not trying to lift more weight than you should. If you can’t control your movements, you must reduce the weight. Proper form is more important than the amount of weight you’re lifting.How to Do the Leg Press
While the exercise should require effort, it needs to be done with complete control. Never rush through the exercise or allow your legs to collapse at the end of the movement.
Buttocks Not Flat Against Seat
If your buttocks are raised off the seat, your legs are at too sharp of an angle. You will need to move the seat back until your knees and buttocks are comfortably positioned. If your knees seem to be right in front of your eyes or if you get cramps, you are not in the correct position.How to Do the Leg Press
Placing Hands on Knees
Placing hands on the knees is a common mistake that will break your form. Grip the assist handles instead.
Short Range of Motion
Always follow through the entire range of motion without lifting your hips. If needed, adjust the seat and/or lower your weights. This means getting deep into the position with your butt below your hips, and your knees wide.How to Do the Leg Press
Raising Head
Focus on the position of your head. It should be steady and laid comfortably against the seatback. If you are jerking your head forward, you are using too much weight.How to Do the Leg Press
Breathing
During the exertion phase, don’t forget to breathe and don’t hold your breath. Your breathing will eventually become automatic if you concentrate on breathing out during exertion and breathing in during release.
Leg Press Modifications and Variations
You can adjust the leg press to make it more accessible as a beginner and to use it to progress.
Need a Modification?
You need to adjust this very individual exercise to fit your body. As machines can vary, you may want to ask a trainer to show you how to adjust it safely before starting.
Beginners should use lighter weights and develop good form. Concentrate on slow and deliberate movements rather than how many reps or the amount of weight you’re lifting. Ask a trainer to review your form and get personalized advice if you notice any unwarranted stress or pain.How to Do the Leg Press
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Up for a Challenge?
Foot positioning can be used to work muscles in different ways. Using a wider foot placement will work the inner thigh muscles. Using a narrower foot placement will work the outer thigh muscles.
Elevating your feet on the footplate might intensify the activation of your hamstrings and gluteus maximus muscles. Your quads will be more prominent if your feet are positioned lower on the footplate, but you should go cautiously because this places additional strain on your knees.How to Do the Leg Press
You can also use the leg press one leg at a time if you are working to overcome imbalances.
Safety and Precautions
Avoid the leg press if you have weak pelvic floor muscles, as it puts much stress on the pelvic floor.5 You should not use this machine if you have a knee injury. Instead, do safer leg press alternatives or strengthening exercises as your doctor, or physical therapist recommended.
If one or both of your knees hurt, do not try to endure the agony. Trying to push through will only result in harm. If you have back pain or an injury, you should avoid doing this exercise as it may put additional strain on your back.SixHow to Do the Leg Press
