Exercise machines that tone and strengthen your leg muscles employ a selection of different movements against the resistance of weights. Every type of exercise machine is meant to work totally different muscles in several elements of the leg.

Pushing weight away from you with the complete leg is named a leg press. This primarily works the quadriceps muscles. Significant weights either rest on the shoulders while you squat, or you sit on a machine while a significant platform is lowered and raised by bending and straightening the knees. Calf-raise machines also rest weight on the shoulders while it’s lifted by pressing up with just the feet. A variation of the calf-raise machine has you sitting with the load on your knees whereas pressing up with the feet. Leg-extension machines give resistance whereas you straighten each legs at the knees from a seated position. Leg-curl machines give resistance whereas you bend each legs at the knees from a prone or standing position. Leg-adduction machines resist as you press the legs together. They work the groin and inner thigh muscles. Leg-abduction machines resist as you spread the legs. They work the hip flexors and outer thigh muscles.

A squatting motion involves bending the legs deeply at the knees and forcing the legs far from the body against resistance. In other machines, you raise the load by pushing up on balls of your feet. There are kicking motions that job the front or back of the thigh, relying on what direction the weight is applied. There are motions to squeeze the legs along and apart against resistance.

Exercise machines for legs focus on several muscle groups. The quadriceps are the large muscles on the front and sides of the thigh. The biceps femoris are on the back of the thighs. They are typically erroneously called the hamstrings. The triceps surae are the muscles of the calf. Groin muscles are on the inside of the thigh. The gluteus maximus muscles within the buttocks sit on prime of the legs and are worked to a lesser degree by exercise machines.  Learn more about exercise equipment for legs here. 

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