The Claim

Even though the players got stronger from doing leg presses, they didn’t run any faster after five weeks — meaning just getting stronger on a machine doesn’t automatically make you sprint better.

Source: The Effect of Unilateral and Bilateral Leg Press Training on Lower Body Strength and Power and Athletic Performance in Adolescent Rugby Players

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
54score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Even though the players got stronger from doing leg presses, they didn’t run any faster after five weeks — meaning just getting stronger on a machine doesn’t automatically make you sprint better.

See the scientific wording

Five weeks of unilateral or bilateral leg press training does not improve linear sprinting performance in adolescent male rugby players, as no significant changes were observed in 30-meter sprint times despite measurable strength gains, suggesting that strength gains from machine-based leg press training do not transfer to sprint speed in this population within this timeframe.

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: The Effect of Unilateral and Bilateral Leg Press Training on Lower Body Strength and Power and Athletic Performance in Adolescent Rugby Players

    Even though the players got stronger from doing leg press exercises, they didn’t run any faster after five weeks — so stronger legs from this machine didn’t help them sprint better.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

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