Isolate the quads and make them burn.
Pause and squeeze your quads hard at the top for a full second.
The leg extension is pure quad isolation, loading the front of your thighs hardest right at the top where the knee locks straight and the quads are fully shortened. No glutes, no balance, no escape, just the pad on your shins and the quads doing every centimetre of the work. That makes it the finisher of choice for chasing a pump, and a smart way to add quad volume without loading your spine or hips.
For healthy knees, no. It's controlled, adjustable resistance through a natural knee motion. If they feel cranky, slow the negative, lighten the stack, and check the pad and seat setup before writing the machine off.
Yes, the full lockout with a squeeze is where the quads work hardest. Stopping short of straight skips the best part of the rep.
On the lower shin just above your feet. If it's riding up near your knees you lose leverage, and if the seat is too far forward the backs of your knees will dig into the pad.
