Leg Extension
oec:leg-extension
An open-chain machine exercise that isolates the quadriceps through seated knee extension.
Generated by gemini-3.8-flash from the sources below. No person has checked this record. Don't rely on it for safety.
Also called: quad extension, seated leg extension, machine leg extension
How to do it
Setup
- Adjust the backrest so the axis of rotation of the machine aligns directly with your knee joints.
- Position the lower leg pad so it rests comfortably against your lower shins just above the ankles.
- Sit back firmly against the pad, grasp the side handles, and pull yourself down into the seat.
Movement
- Extend your knees smoothly to raise the pad until your legs are fully straightened.
- Pause briefly at peak contraction without hyperextending or lifting your hips from the seat.
- Lower the weight under control back to the starting flexed position.
Breathing
Exhale as you extend your legs and inhale as you lower the weight.
Cues
- Keep your hips glued to the seat
- Squeeze your quads at the top
- Control the descent
Common faults
- Kicking or using momentum to swing the weight up.
- Initiate the movement smoothly and maintain a controlled cadence throughout.
- Hips lifting off the bench during the repetition.
- Pull up firmly on the machine handles to lock your pelvis into the seat.
- Misaligned knee pivot point with the machine axis.
- Adjust the seat back so your knees line up directly with the machine's pivot point.
Safety
- Avoid aggressive hyperextension at the top of the movement, especially under heavy loads.
Muscles
Joints
- Knee: Extension, Flexion
Details
- Movement
- Knee extension isolation
- Modality
- Hypertrophy, Strength
- Mechanics
- isolation
- Force
- push
- Laterality
- bilateral
- Kinetic chain
- open
- Level
- beginner
- Equipment
- Selectorized machine or Plate-loaded machine
- Record
- Repetitions and Load
- Load
- external, weight stack
Related
- regression of Single-Leg Leg Extension
- progression of Isometric Leg Extension
- substitute for Reverse Nordic Curl
Sources
- wger: Leg Extension, by BFad07 (CC0-1.0)
This record: CC-BY-SA-4.0.