The leg press is an weight training exercise in which the individual pushes a weight away from them using their legs. The term leg press also refers to the apparatus used to perform this exercise. The leg press can be used to evaluate an athlete's overall lower body strength.
There are two main types of leg press:
- The diagonal or vertical 'sled' type leg press. Cast iron weight disks (plates) are attached directly to the sled, which is mounted on rails. The user sits below the sled and pushes it upwards with their feet. These machines normally include adjustable safety brackets that prevent the user from being trapped under the weight. A common mistake is to allow the sled to move all the way down, which may strain the knees and lower back. It should be lowered only until the knees are bent at a right angle.
- The 'cable' type leg press, commonly found on multigyms. The user sits upright and pushes forwards with their feet onto a plate that is attached to the weight stack by means of a long steel cable.
Muscle groups
The leg press works the following muscle groups:
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