Exercises

Seated knee extension

Straighten one knee while seated. The thigh stays supported as the lower leg rises.

Upright person on a flat bench with one knee straightened forward, thigh supported and the other foot on the floor.

No equipment · Chair or bench

Source: Leeds Teaching Hospitals · Seated Knee Extension

Step by step

  1. Sit upright on a stable seat with both thighs supported and feet on the floor.
  2. Slowly straighten one knee, lifting the foot forward without lifting the thigh.
  3. Pause briefly within a comfortable range and keep breathing.
  4. Lower the foot slowly. Repeat, then change legs.

Common mistakes

  • Kicking the leg upward with momentum.
  • Leaning backward or lifting the thigh off the seat.

Anatomy and technique: the references below. Region boundaries and movement diagrams are schematic. Exercise images are AI-generated illustrations.