LEG PRESS – RESEARCH
Click on Image to Enlarge
EMG STUDIES
GLUTEUS MAXIMUS, RECTUS FEMORIS, VASTUS LATERALIS
– 45º Leg Press vs. Leg press High Foot Placement vs. Leg Press Low Foot Placement
Analysis of Muscle Activation During Different Leg Press Exercises at Sub-maximum Effort Levels – 2008 – DaSilva
Subjects
– 14 healthy young women (physical education students)
Procedure
– 14 women performed 40% and 80% of the 1 repetition maximum
1. 45° LP (LP45): starting concentric 90° knee flexion and 105° hip flexion
2. LP high (LPH): starting concentric 90° knee flexion and 125° hip flexion
3. LP low (LPL): starting concentric 90° knee flexion and 90° hip flexion
Results
Gluteus Maximus – 40%1RM: LP low 45% . LP45 40% . LP high 40%
– Gluteus Maximus – 80%1RM: LP high 120% . LP45 100% . LP low 90%
Rectus Femoris – 40%1RM: LP45 50% . LP low 40% . LP high 30%
– Rectus Femoris – 80%1RM: LP low 100% . LP45 90% . LP high 65%
Vastus Lateralis – 40%1RM: LP45 55% . LP high 55% . LP low 55%
– Vastus Lateralis – 80%1RM: LP low 100% . LP45 90% . LP high 85%
Biceps Femoris – 40%1RM: LP45 55% . LP high 50% . LP low 45%
– Biceps Femoris – 80%1RM: LP low 100% . LP high 90% . LP45 85%
Gastrocnemius – 40%1RM: LP45 40% . LP low 40% . LP high 30%
– Gastrocnemius – 80%1RM: LP45 80% . LP low 80% . LP high 50%
1 
GLUTEUS MAXIMUS, RECTUS FEMORIS, VASTUS LATERALIS, VASTUS MEDIALIS
– Standing Kickback vs. Leg Press vs. Knee Extension
Electromyographic Comparison of Five Lower-Limb Muscles between Single- and Multi-Joint Exercises among Trained Men – 2021
– Nicolay Stien, Atle Hole Saeterbakken, and Vidar Andersen
Procedure
– 15 resistance-trained men
Exercises
1. Leg Press: starting position 90° knee flexion; 60° hip flexion; extended knee to 180° and hip joints 150°
2. Knee Extension: started at 90° knee flexion; performed to a full extension 180°
3. Kickback: standing; 90° angle in the hip joint; knee semi-extended 170°; concentric 180° in the hip joint
Results
Gluteus Maximus: leg press 90 . kickback 80
Rectus Femoris: knee extension 95 . leg press 70
Vastus Lateralis: leg press 105 . knee extension 90
Vastus Medialis: leg press 95 . knee extension 80
+ Biceps Femoris: kickback 105 . leg press 30
1