Leg press

Illustration of a seated patient holding both ends of an elastic resistance band looped around the foot, and the leg flexed. — Seated patient using an elastic resistance band at home for a leg press exercise.

Illustration of a patient extending the leg against the resistance of the elastic band. — As the quadriceps muscles in the 'lap' tighten, the leg extends against the resistance of the elastic band.

Using a leg press in the gym

In the gym, patients generally have access to a commercial leg press device.

There may be a choice between a device where the body is fixed and the foot plate moves, or where the foot plate is fixed and the body moves. The latter is preferable.

Leg press exercises are mainly used to build up the quadriceps muscles, but they also exercise the glutes in the buttocks.

"...The vastus medialis and vastus lateralis elicited the greatest muscle activation during the leg press exercise, followed closely by the rectus femoris."

Isabel Martín-Fuentes et al

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Using a resistance band at home

The exercise can easily be done at home with an elastic resistance band available from any sports shop.

Sit in a dining chair with a firm back, place the fold of the band under the sole with the two free ends in the hands. Lift the foot to the level of the chair seat, adjust the grip on the elastic, and then straighten out the leg, still keeping it at the level of the chair seat. Repeat.