The Claim
Pushing a heavy leg press machine makes the outer part of your thigh muscle grow more than doing leg extensions, because it puts more overall stress on that part of the muscle.
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.
Pushing a heavy leg press machine makes the outer part of your thigh muscle grow more than doing leg extensions, because it puts more overall stress on that part of the muscle.
See the scientific wording
Multi-joint leg press exercises are likely to produce greater hypertrophy in the vastus lateralis muscle compared to single-joint leg extension exercises in trained young adults after 8 weeks of training, likely due to greater mechanical load and joint angle-specific tension.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Exercise Selection Differentially Influences Lower Body Regional Muscle Development
The study found that doing leg presses made the big thigh muscle (vastus lateralis) grow more than doing leg extensions, because leg presses use more weight and work the muscle through a bigger range of motion.
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.