EXERCISE GUIDE

Leg Extension

The Leg Extension is a beginner machine leg extension that primarily trains the quads. It is useful for isolating the quads through knee extension.

Primary muscles
quads
Secondary muscles
None
Equipment
machine
Difficulty
beginner

TARGET AREA

Muscles worked

Primary muscles

quads

Secondary muscles

None

THE MOVEMENT

How to perform

  1. Adjust the seat and shin pad so the machine pivot lines up comfortably with the knee.
  2. Sit back against the pad and hold the handles for stability.
  3. Extend the knee until the leg is straight or near straight without kicking the weight.
  4. Lower under control until the quad is lengthened again.

IRONYOU / CORE

Core cues

  • Adjust the machine so the knee lines up comfortably with the pivot.
  • Keep the hips and torso against the pad while the lower leg moves.
  • Control both the extension and return instead of letting the stack drop.

STAY SHARP

Common mistakes

  • Using momentum to kick the weight up.
  • Letting the hips lift off the seat.
  • Using a setup that places the pad or machine pivot in an uncomfortable position.

YOUR PROGRESS

Your strength

Use your best set to calculate your current IronYou rank and see what comes next.

STEP 1 OF 3

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IRONYOU RANK SYSTEM

Standards

Published reference points from the production IronYou rank system.

IronYou has 13 strength ranks: Copper I–III → Silver I–III → Gold I–III → Titanium I–III → IRON. IRON is the highest IronYou rank. The public standards tables show the estimated 1RM required to enter Silver I, Gold I, Titanium I, and IRON. Standards vary by sex and bodyweight.

Logged load: machine or cable stack load. Public value: total stack/load.

Leg Extension Strength Standards — Male

Male

Published estimated 1RM thresholds by bodyweight. Load is recorded as total stack/load.

Leg Extension estimated 1RM strength standards by bodyweight and IronYou rank — Male.
Bodyweight (kg)Silver IGold ITitanium IIRON
50 kg62.6 kg82.9 kg103.2 kg145.4 kg
60 kg69.3 kg91.8 kg114.3 kg161.1 kg
70 kg75.4 kg99.9 kg124.4 kg175.3 kg
80 kg81 kg107.2 kg133.5 kg188.2 kg
90 kg85.9 kg113.8 kg141.7 kg199.8 kg
100 kg90.5 kg119.8 kg149.1 kg210.3 kg
110 kg94.5 kg125.2 kg155.9 kg219.7 kg
120 kg98.2 kg130.1 kg161.9 kg228.3 kg

Leg Extension Strength Standards — Female

Female

Published estimated 1RM thresholds by bodyweight. Load is recorded as total stack/load.

Leg Extension estimated 1RM strength standards by bodyweight and IronYou rank — Female.
Bodyweight (kg)Silver IGold ITitanium IIRON
40 kg34.4 kg45.5 kg56.7 kg79.9 kg
50 kg45.8 kg60.7 kg75.6 kg106.5 kg
60 kg53 kg70.2 kg87.3 kg123.1 kg
70 kg57.4 kg76.1 kg94.7 kg133.5 kg
80 kg60.2 kg79.7 kg99.3 kg139.9 kg
90 kg61.9 kg82 kg102.1 kg144 kg
100 kg63 kg83.5 kg103.9 kg146.5 kg
  • IronYou-specific standard; resistance can vary between machines/equipment.
  • Values are estimated 1RM thresholds required to enter the named IronYou major rank tier.
  • Standards are derived from the production IronYou Rank V1 model.
  • IronYou-specific standard; resistance can vary between machines/equipment.

KEEP EXPLORING

Variations

  • Related variation: Single Leg Extension.
  • Choose the version that matches your equipment, joint comfort, and the movement you can repeat consistently.

EARLY ACCESS

Track Leg Extension in IronYou.

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