Bad: Leg Extension
- The four parts of your quadriceps are designed to work together as one. Recent study
in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that leg extensions activate the
sections slightly independently of one another. Even a five-millisecond difference can
cause uneven compression between the kneecap and thighbone, inflaming the tendon
that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. - This exercise should only be done under very specific circumstances in rehabilitation
setting. This movement puts a tremendous amount of torque on the knee and since the
resistance is placed across the shin and not along the length of the bone, the bones
are pressed backward putting tremendous stress on them. - When done for rehabilitation purposes, a very specific range of motion should be used
and the shin pad should be placed higher up on the lower leg and the resistance should
not start at any more than a 90 degree angle.