Muscles Trained: Quads (Quadriceps), glutes, hamstrings.

Intro: The leg press is a compound exercise that works many of the muscles in your legs. They are very similar to the squat but are not as effective. Form is very important when performing the leg press as your lower back and knees could suffer injury. You will need a leg press machine to perform this lift. Most are at a 45 degree angle while a few gyms may have vertical leg press machines. Some gyms also have a seated leg press machine. This article is written with the 45 degree one in mind.

Alternating the squat and leg press or doing leg presses after squats works for many people. The amount of weight that can be used on the leg press gets into extremely high numbers for some people. With that being said, form is crucial because some people reach up to 2000 pounds!

How it is performed: Approach the leg press machine and make any necessary adjustments. Sit in the seat with your back on the support. Place feet on the platform. The width of your legs varies with what you are trying to achieve. A nice starting point would be shoulder width and on the upper half of the platform. Extend your legs and release the stopper lever.

In a controller manner, lower the weight down as low as you can comfortably go. Powerfully, push the weight back up until your legs are almost fully extended. Do not lock your knees at the very top. Complete your desired number of repetitions and use the stoppers to lock the weight.

It is very important to not allow your lower back to come off of the seat. Locking your knees at the top also needs to be avoided. To achieve maximum benefit, go all the way down rather then partial repetitions. Always value form over weight.