Leg Extension vs Side Lunge
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions vs 2,121. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Leg Extension and Side Lunge for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Leg Extension vs Side Lunge : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions compared to 2,121 for Side Lunge.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Leg Extension and Side Lunge differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Leg Extension and Side Lunge Differ
| What differs | Leg Extension | Side Lunge |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads | quads, glutes, and outer thighs |
| Equipment | a machine | bodyweight only |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 1 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 49,848 sessions | 2,121 sessions |
How to 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 Comment
- 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.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Leg Extension, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Leg Extension Guide page of our blog!
How to Side Lunge
Side Lunge muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Move one foot to the side and shift your weight.
- 2. Bend the knee of the moved leg and keep the opposite leg straight.
- 3. Apply pressure to the center of the bent knee and slowly rise back to the starting position.
- 4. Repeat the same on the opposite side.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body forward.
- 2. Please make sure that your center of gravity does not shift too much to the side.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Side Lunge, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Side Lunge Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Leg Extension or Side Lunge?
Planfit users log Leg Extension more often — 49,848 sessions against 2,121 for Side Lunge. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Leg Extension and Side Lunge work the same muscles?
Not quite. Leg Extension loads quads, and Side Lunge loads quads, glutes, and outer thighs.
What equipment do Leg Extension and Side Lunge need?
Leg Extension needs a machine, and Side Lunge needs bodyweight only.
Which is easier to start with?
Leg Extension is the easier place to start. Move to Side Lunge once your form holds up.
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