Leg Extension vs Hip Extension
Which one fits your Leg workout plan?
Contents
Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions vs 531. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Compare the benefits of Leg Extension and Hip Extension and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.
Leg Extension vs Hip Extension: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions compared to 531 for Hip Extension.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Leg Extension and Hip Extension differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Leg Extension and Hip Extension Differ
| What differs | Leg Extension | Hip Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads | glutes and hamstrings |
| Equipment | a machine | bodyweight only |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 1 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 49,848 sessions | 531 sessions |
How to Do Leg Extension
Leg Extension Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please lift until your knees are fully extended.
- 2. Please contract from the front of your thigh close to your knee up to the upper thigh near the hip joint.
- 3. Slowly lower down until the angle of your knees is 90 degrees while resisting the weight.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please do not give any momentum as it may injure your knees.
- 2. Please be careful not to fully bend or straighten your knees.
- 3. Please be careful not to let your hips and back separate.
For a full Leg Extension guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Leg Extension exercise guide.
How to Do Hip Extension
Hip Extension Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Raise your leg with the sole facing the sky.
- 2. Slowly return to the starting position.
- 3. Proceed one side at a time or alternately.
Coach's Tips
- Keep your chest up to avoid bending your waist and engage your core.
For a full Hip Extension guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Hip Extension exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Leg Extension or Hip Extension?
Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions against 531 for Hip Extension. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Leg Extension and Hip Extension work the same muscles?
Not quite. Leg Extension loads quads, and Hip Extension loads glutes and hamstrings.
What equipment do Leg Extension and Hip Extension need?
Leg Extension needs a machine, and Hip Extension needs bodyweight only.
Stop Guessing Which One to Do
AI picks your workouts based on your goals, body type, and experience.
