Leg Extension vs Seated One Leg Press
Which one fits your Leg workout plan?
Contents
Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions vs 1,391. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Compare the benefits of Leg Extension and Seated One Leg Press and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.
Leg Extension vs Seated One Leg Press: 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 1,391 for Seated One Leg Press.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Leg Extension and Seated One Leg Press 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 Seated One Leg Press Differ
| What differs | Leg Extension | Seated One Leg Press |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads | quads, hamstrings, and glutes |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 1 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 49,848 sessions | 1,391 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 Seated One Leg Press
Seated One Leg Press Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please bend from the hip joint to the knee while keeping your abdomen tight.
- 2. Go down until your thigh is perpendicular to your body.
- 3. Push while extending the hip joint, but only until the knee is slightly bent.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your knees spread apart.
- 3. Please be careful not to lift your hips off the equipment.
For a full Seated One Leg Press guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Seated One Leg Press exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Leg Extension or Seated One Leg Press?
Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions against 1,391 for Seated One Leg Press. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Leg Extension and Seated One Leg Press work the same muscles?
Not quite. Leg Extension loads quads, and Seated One Leg Press loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.
What equipment do Leg Extension and Seated One Leg Press need?
Leg Extension needs a machine, and Seated One Leg Press needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Leg Extension is the easier place to start. Move to Seated One Leg Press once your form holds up.
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