Quad exercises

Single-leg Leg Press

Also known as: Presse à cuisses unilatérale · Μονόπλευρη πρέσα ποδιών · single leg press · one-leg press

Primary
Quads
Equipment
Machine
Type
Compound
Suggested rest
1.5 min
 
One side at a time

How to do the Single-leg Leg Press

  1. Sit in the leg press and place one foot in the middle of the platform.

  2. Release the safety handles, keeping your hips pressed into the seat.

  3. Lower the platform slowly until your knee reaches about 90 degrees.

  4. Push through your whole foot and finish your reps before switching legs.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth3–48–121.5 min
Muscular endurance2–315–201 min

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add 5 kg (10 lb) next session and work back up.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Quads

Secondary

Glutes, Hamstrings

The front of your thighs straightens the knee. Squats, leg presses and lunges with deep knee bend build them; leg extensions isolate them.

Alternatives

Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Single-leg Leg Press doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.

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Machine quad exercises