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Lever Horizontal One Leg Press

The lever horizontal one leg press is a lower body strength exercise performed on a leverage machine. It primarily targets the glutes, with secondary emphasis on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. The exercise involves pressing a footplate away from the body using one leg at a time, which increases the demand for unilateral strength and stability.

Quick Facts

Body PartsUpper Legs
Target MusclesGlutes
Secondary MusclesQuadriceps, Hamstrings, and Calves
EquipmentLeverage Machine
DifficultyIntermediate
Exercise TypeStrength
BilateralNo

How to Do Lever Horizontal One Leg Press

Follow these step-by-step instructions to perform Lever Horizontal One Leg Press with proper form and technique.

  1. Adjust the seat of the machine so that your knees are at a 90-degree angle when your feet are on the footplate.
  2. Sit on the machine with your back against the backrest and your feet shoulder-width apart on the footplate.
  3. Place your hands on the handles or sides of the machine for stability.
  4. Push the footplate away from your body by extending your leg, keeping your back against the backrest.
  5. Pause for a moment at the fully extended position, then slowly bend your leg to return to the starting position.
  6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs.

Muscles Worked

Understanding which muscles Lever Horizontal One Leg Press targets helps you integrate it effectively into your training program.

Target Muscles

These are the main muscles responsible for performing the movement and receive the greatest training stimulus.

Glutes

Secondary Muscles

These muscles assist in the movement and receive secondary training benefits.

QuadricepsHamstringsCalves

Benefits of Lever Horizontal One Leg Press

Incorporating Lever Horizontal One Leg Press into your workout routine offers numerous advantages for strength, muscle development, and overall fitness.

  • Glutes Development: Lever Horizontal One Leg Press directly targets and strengthens the Glutes, promoting muscle growth and improved functional strength.
  • Secondary Muscle Engagement: This exercise also works the Quadriceps, Hamstrings, and Calves, providing additional training stimulus without extra exercises.
  • Safe and Controlled Movement: Machine exercises provide a fixed movement path, reducing the need for stabilization and allowing you to focus purely on the target muscles.
  • Functional Strength: Strength exercises like Lever Horizontal One Leg Press build real-world strength that transfers to daily activities and athletic performance.
  • Corrects Imbalances: As a unilateral exercise, it helps identify and correct strength imbalances between sides of the body.

Safety Tips and Precautions

Performing Lever Horizontal One Leg Press safely is essential for preventing injuries and ensuring long-term progress.

  • Warm Up Properly: Before performing Lever Horizontal One Leg Press, complete 5-10 minutes of light cardio followed by dynamic stretches targeting the Glutes and surrounding muscles.
  • Prioritize Form Over Weight: Never sacrifice proper technique for heavier weights. Poor form significantly increases injury risk and reduces the exercise's effectiveness.
  • Adjust to Your Body: Take time to properly adjust all seat heights and pad positions to fit your body before adding weight.
  • Knee Safety: Keep your knees tracking in line with your toes throughout the movement. Don't let them cave inward.
  • Respect Your Range of Motion: Work within your current mobility limits. Gradually improve flexibility over time rather than forcing deeper positions.
  • Don't Hold Your Breath: Maintain consistent breathing throughout the exercise. Exhale during the exertion phase and inhale during the easier phase.
  • Know When to Stop: End your set when you can no longer maintain proper form. Training to absolute failure on every set increases injury risk.
  • Allow Adequate Recovery: The Glutes typically need 48-72 hours to recover after intense training. Avoid training the same muscle group on consecutive days.

Tracking Your Progress

To make consistent gains with Lever Horizontal One Leg Press, track these metrics during your workouts:

Sets

Track the number of sets you complete. Most training programs recommend 3-5 sets per exercise.

Reps

Record your repetitions per set. Adjust rep ranges based on your goals: 1-5 for strength, 6-12 for hypertrophy, 12+ for endurance.

Weight

Log the weight used for progressive overload. Aim to gradually increase weight while maintaining proper form.

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