Side Kick Back vs One Leg Press
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Side Kick Back is the easier place to start — difficulty 1 of 5 vs 5. Compare Leg form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Side Kick Back and One Leg Press for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Side Kick Back vs One Leg Press : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log One Leg Press more often — 1,391 sessions compared to 822 for Side Kick Back.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Side Kick Back and One Leg Press differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Side Kick Back and One Leg Press Differ
| What differs | Side Kick Back | One Leg Press |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | outer thighs | quads, hamstrings, and glutes |
| Equipment | bodyweight only | a machine |
| Difficulty | 1 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 822 sessions | 1,391 sessions |
How to Side Kick Back
Side Kick Back muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Raise one leg while keeping the knee at a 90-degree angle, parallel to the ground.
- 2. Slowly return to the starting position.
- 3. Proceed one side at a time or alternately.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Keep your chest up to avoid bending your waist and engage your core.
- 2. Be careful not to bend your elbows.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Side Kick Back, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Side Kick Back Guide page of our blog!
How to One Leg Press
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 Comment
- 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.
If you want to know a detailed guide to One Leg Press, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the One Leg Press Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Side Kick Back or One Leg Press?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Leg, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Side Kick Back and One Leg Press work the same muscles?
Not quite. Side Kick Back loads outer thighs, and One Leg Press loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.
What equipment do Side Kick Back and One Leg Press need?
Side Kick Back needs bodyweight only, and One Leg Press needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Side Kick Back is the easier place to start. Move to One Leg Press once your form holds up.
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