Introduction
Working out your legs is not only crucial for aesthetic but functional reasons too. Our lower extremities have the most muscles on our bodies, and for that reason, it is a good idea to hit them in the gym. Strong legs burn a lot of calories, and they make everyday activities much easier. In this article, we will give you some ideas, telling you what home gym equipment is best for working out legs, so you don't get lost among all those gym machines.
Leg press
Leg press, whether horizontal or vertical, builds your leg muscles like no other machine. The reason why is simple - this is a compound movement, which is rare for a machine. Doing leg press will hit your quads, glutes, and even hamstrings to some extent. You can also do calf raises, hitting those stubborn muscles. Moreover, because leg press is a compound exercise, it is very challenging, making it fun. In short - it is a much simpler version of the barbell squat, and anyone can do it, without any special instructions, as it is quite self-explanatory.
Leg Curl and Leg Extension
These two machines go hand in hand, and if you want balanced lower body musculature, you need to work both, not just one or the other. These are isolation movements, which means they only focus on one joint and muscle group. Leg curl works on knee flexion, hitting primarily your hamstrings, while the leg extension works on the extension, hitting mainly your quads. Both exercises isolate the muscles, making them perfect for people who are interested in toning specific muscle groups. However, it is best that you do them combined with compound movements such as squats or leg presses, to get the most benefits. After all, muscles are designed to work in synergy with one another, and you should treat them that way.
Calf raise machines
These machines target the calves, one of the hardest and most stubborn muscle groups to grow. Calves are 90% genetics, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't work hard with what you got. There are so many buff dudes out there with chicken legs. And sometimes, having big glutes and quads will make your skinny calves look even worse, so make sure you hit those calf raises.
Hip flexion/abduction and glute adduction and extension machines
These machines are sometimes combined into one that lets you move your leg in different directions. But usually, they are separate pieces of gym equipment for sale.
They are designed to hit smaller muscle groups, primarily around your hips, and alongside your inner and outer thighs. These muscles, although small, are very important, and they assist you in major lifts such as deadlifts and squats and promote hip health and stability.
Free weights
All the machines mentioned above are fantastic, but nothing beats free weights. Also, your gym might not have all that equipment, but all have gym sets of dumbbells and barbells. For that reason, you have no excuse, and you should incorporate squats, deadlifts, lunges, good mornings and hip thrusts into your routine. While doing these weight lifting exercises, your muscles need to work overtime, as they have to keep things balanced and under control, boosting your gains.
