Position yourself for this exercise by sitting down on a leg extension machine with your legs underneath the pad and your feet pointing forward. You should adjust the pad so that it contacts your lower leg, just above your feet. Select an appropriate weight and hold the side bar with your hands. From this starting position, execute the exercise by using your quadriceps to extend your legs until they are straight. If you have knee problems, it may be prudent to stop just short of completely straightening your legs. Pause briefly in the position of peak contraction before lowering the weight (under control) back to the starting position. Ensure that throughout the course of the movement, your body remains stationary; your lower leg should be the only body part that is in motion as you execute the exercise. Repeat for the prescribed number of repetitions.
