Horizontal Seated Leg Press

Horizontal Seated Leg Press Basics

Primary muscles worked: Quads

Synergist Muscles: Glutes, Hamstrings

Mechanics: Compound

Equipment: Seated Leg Press Machine

How To Perform The Horizontal Seated Leg Press

• First, position yourself on the horizontal seated leg press machine.
• Adjust the seat so that your knees form an angle just under 90 degrees. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart on the foot platform.
• When ready, push through your feet utilizing the muscles in their quads and glutes so that your legs reach full extension.
• At this point, if there is a safety catch bar, you should disengage this bar; however, if you get into a compromised situation you should be able to easily re-engage the safety catch.
• Grab on to the handle bars typically located each side of the machine and continue the exercise.
• Bend at your knees, creating a 90 degree angle at your knee joint.
• From here, press upward by pushing through your feet.
• After the desired number of repetitions is completed, you should engage the safety catch and slowly lower the weight back to the safety pins.

Horizontal Seated Leg Press Tips

• Never get off of the horizontal seated leg press machine until the weight is safely and securely on the safety pins.
• No not allow your back to lift off of the back rest when performing the seated leg press. This can cause a significant increase in spinal pressure and lead to injury.

Horizontal Seated Leg Press and Sports Application

Leg drive is an important component of sports. It can be seen in various movements such as jumping, running, and changing directions to name a few. The horizontal seated leg press utilizes a movement pattern that can be transitioned to these other movements. What this exercise does so well is it isolates the quads in a stable environment. This will allow the athlete to focus purely on the overall strength of these muscles which can in turn relate to strength in the movements mentioned above.