The Claim

In resistance-trained men, there is no significant difference in electromyographic activation of the vastus medialis muscle between the leg press and knee extension exercises, with an effect size of 0.56 and a p-value of 0.025, indicating comparable neuromuscular recruitment of this quadriceps muscle head during single- and multi-joint knee extension movements.

Source: Electromyographic Comparison of Five Lower-Limb Muscles between Single- and Multi-Joint Exercises among Trained Men.

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
34score
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.

Quantitative
1 study reviewed
In plain English

For guys who lift weights, the inner thigh muscle works just as hard during leg presses and knee extensions — these two exercises use that muscle in a similar way.

See the scientific wording

In resistance-trained men, the vastus medialis muscle shows no significant difference in electromyographic activation between leg press and knee extension exercises (effect size = 0.56, p = 0.025), indicating similar neuromuscular recruitment of this quadriceps head across single- and multi-joint knee extension movements.

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Electromyographic Comparison of Five Lower-Limb Muscles between Single- and Multi-Joint Exercises among Trained Men.

    The study looked at muscle activity during leg press and knee extension exercises and found the vastus medialis muscle is used similarly in both, which matches the claim.

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

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