The Claim
Do different leg exercises make different parts of thigh muscles grow?
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Different leg exercises make different parts of your thigh muscles grow bigger—leg extensions grow all parts of one muscle, while squats mainly grow the middle part of another.
See the scientific wording
Exercise selection influences regional muscle hypertrophy in the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis, with leg extensions leading to growth in all three regions (proximal, central, distal) of the rectus femoris, while smith machine squats primarily stimulate central growth of the vastus lateralis.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: The role of exercise selection in regional Muscle Hypertrophy: A randomized controlled trial
This study found that doing leg extensions makes the whole front thigh muscle grow, but doing squats only makes the middle part of the outer thigh muscle grow — just like the claim said.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.