Close Stance Leg Press

The close stance leg press is a variation of the standard leg press in which the narrow foot position moves the emphasis toward the outer thigh, the vastus lateralis in particular, while reducing the contribution of the adductors and the glutes. It is the natural counterpart to a wide stance, and alternating the two across a training cycle covers the quadriceps more completely than staying in one position forever. The safety lever sequence is not a detail worth skipping: releasing the handles transfers the whole load at once, so the knees must not be locked out and the joints should keep a slight bend. With the feet close together, the knees tend to drift inward as you press, and that is the thing to watch on every repetition rather than only on the last one.