The type of leg exercise you do — whether it’s a leg press, leg extension, or calf raise — can change which part of your leg muscles grow bigger, and you can see the difference in just 8 weeks.

Not all parts of your thigh and calf muscles grow the same way — some parts grow better with certain exercises, so doing different types of lifts can help you build muscle more evenly.

If you want to grow the outer part of your thigh (vastus lateralis), leg presses might be more effective than leg extensions.

If young guys who haven’t worked out in a while switch up their strength exercises for the same muscles, they’ll likely build muscle more evenly across their thighs and arms over nine weeks compared to doing the same moves every time.

If you do a workout that targets both your upper and lower body, your muscles in those areas won't grow at the same rate or in the same way. Research shows that most combined workout routines lead to noticeably different muscle growth patterns between your arms and chest compared to your legs and glutes.

If you switch up your leg exercises during a workout routine, you might build more muscle in certain parts of your thigh—like the upper side—compared to sticking with the same moves.