Exercise guide
Lever Seated Leg Press
- Beginner
- Compound
- Rep-based
- Lower legs
- Upper legs
The lever seated leg press is a powerful compound movement that builds lower body strength and mass by targeting the quadriceps and glutes while providing stable back support.
Reviewed by the Crucible team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Sit firmly in the machine with your back and head pressed against the padded support.
- Place your feet hip-width apart on the footplate, ensuring your heels are flat and secure.
- Grasp the side handles for stability and disengage the safety bars to begin the movement.
How to do it
- Inhale and slowly lower the weight by bending your knees until they reach a 90-degree angle, keeping your feet flat.
- Exhale as you drive the platform away by pushing through your heels and mid-foot.
- Extend your legs fully but stop just before your knees lock out to maintain constant muscle tension.
- Maintain a controlled 2-1-2 tempo (2 seconds down, 1 second pause, 2 seconds up).
Form checklist
- Keep your lower back and glutes glued to the seat throughout the entire range of motion.
- Ensure your knees track directly over your toes, avoiding any inward collapse.
- Do not allow your heels to lift off the platform at the bottom of the rep.
- Avoid 'butt wink' or rounding the lower spine as the weight descends.
Pro tips
- To emphasize the glutes, place your feet slightly higher on the platform; to emphasize the quads, place them slightly lower.
- Focus on the mind-muscle connection by imagining you are pushing the floor away from your body.
Make it harder
- Perform the movement unilaterally (one leg at a time) to increase intensity and fix imbalances.
- Incorporate a 3-second pause at the bottom of each repetition to remove elastic energy and increase difficulty.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the lever seated leg press work?
- The lever seated leg press primarily targets the glutes and quadriceps, and also works the hamstrings as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the lever seated leg press?
- The lever seated leg press uses leverage machine.
- Is the lever seated leg press good for beginners?
- Yes. The lever seated leg press is a beginner-friendly movement and a strong foundation to build on.