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Analysis v1
Strong Support

Leg extensions make the front part of your thigh grow more than squats do.

48
Pro
0
Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (4)

48

Community contributions welcome

48

Comparison of Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength Adaptations Induced by Back Squat and Leg Extension Resistance Exercises.

Randomized Controlled Trial
Human
2025 Dec 12

The study found that doing leg extensions made the front thigh muscle (rectus femoris) grow more than doing squats, which supports the idea that isolating the muscle with one movement works better than using it in a big compound move.

48

Comparison of Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength Adaptations Induced by Back Squat and Leg Extension Resistance Exercises

Randomized Controlled Trial
Human
2025 Dec 12

The study found that doing leg extensions made the front thigh muscle (rectus femoris) grow more than doing squats, which supports the idea that isolated exercises are better for growing muscles that cross two joints.

41

The role of exercise selection in regional Muscle Hypertrophy: A randomized controlled trial

Randomized Controlled Trial
Human
2021 Oct

The study found that leg extensions made the front thigh muscle (rectus femoris) grow more evenly than squats did, which supports the idea that isolated exercises are better for growing muscles that cross two joints.

31

Hypertrophic Effects of Single- versus Multi-Joint Exercise: A Direct Comparison Between Knee Extension and Leg Press.

Randomized Controlled Trial
Human
2026 Feb 5

The study found that doing leg extensions (moving just the knee) made the rectus femoris muscle grow much more than doing leg presses (which move both knee and hip), because leg presses don’t fully engage that muscle. So isolation exercises are better for growing this specific muscle.

Contradicting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

No contradicting evidence found

Similar Assertions

Muscles that cross two joints (biarticular muscles) exhibit preferential hypertrophy with isolation exercises that target a single joint action, due to mechanical disadvantage during multi-joint movements.

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Doing both compound movements like pull-ups and isolation exercises like dumbbell curls is the best way to build bigger biceps and the underlying brachialis muscle.

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Compound lower-body exercises performed through a full range of motion (e.g., squats) induce greater hypertrophy in the distal regions of mono-articular quadriceps muscles (e.g., vastus lateralis) compared to isolation exercises, likely due to training at longer muscle lengths.

53
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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).

61
0
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Compound exercises involving greater total muscle mass do not produce superior hypertrophy in target muscles compared to isolation exercises when training volume and effort are equated.

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