The Claim
Doing leg extensions (kicking your leg out while sitting) makes the front thigh muscle right above your knee grow more than doing leg presses (pushing a heavy platform with both legs).
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.
Doing leg extensions (kicking your leg out while sitting) makes the front thigh muscle right above your knee grow more than doing leg presses (pushing a heavy platform with both legs).
See the scientific wording
Single-joint leg extension exercises are likely to produce greater hypertrophy in the rectus femoris muscle compared to multi-joint leg press exercises in trained young adults after 8 weeks of training, due to greater isolated activation of this bi-articular muscle.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Exercise Selection Differentially Influences Lower Body Regional Muscle Development
The study found that doing leg extensions (kicking out just your knee) made the front thigh muscle called rectus femoris grow more than doing leg presses (pushing with both knee and hip), because leg extensions focus only on the knee.
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.