Leg Extension

Start

Finish

How to do it

Sit with the knee joint lined up with the machine pivot and the pad on the lower shin, then straighten the legs to full lockout and lower slowly under tension.

Muscles worked

Primary: quads

Equipment

Machines, Full gym

Common mistakes

• Setting the pad high on the shin near the knee, which makes the lever short and stresses the joint
• Swinging the torso and letting the weight drop back down instead of controlling the return
• Slamming into lockout with a jerk rather than squeezing into it

Variations

• One leg at a time
• Hold the lockout for two seconds each rep
• Partial reps in the top half at the end of a set

Can't do this one? Swap it for

• Band Leg Extension
• Sissy Squat
• Wall Sit
• Leg Press

Related exercises

• Barbell Back Squatquads
• Goblet Squatquads
• Bodyweight Squatquads
• Leg Pressquads
• Bulgarian Split Squatquads
• Walking Lungequads