Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Sled One Leg Calf Press on Leg Press: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The sled one leg calf press on leg press is a machine-based exercise targeting the calves, performed one leg at a time for increased isolation and intensity. It also engages the hamstrings and glutes as secondary muscles.

Primary muscles
Calves
Secondary muscles
Hamstrings , Glutes
Equipment
Sled Machine
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the sled one leg calf press on leg press
Front view: muscles worked by the sled one leg calf press on leg press. Primary: calves. Secondary: hamstrings and glutes.
Back view: muscles worked by the sled one leg calf press on leg press. Primary: calves. Secondary: hamstrings and glutes.
Primary Secondary

How to do the sled one leg calf press on leg press

  1. Step 1: Adjust the seat of the leg press machine so that your knees are slightly bent when your feet are on the sled.
  2. Step 2: Sit on the machine with your back against the backrest and your feet on the sled, shoulder-width apart.
  3. Step 3: Place your toes and the balls of your feet on the sled, keeping your heels off.
  4. Step 4: Push the sled forward by extending your ankles, keeping your knees slightly bent.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the sled back down by flexing your ankles.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the sled one leg calf press on leg press by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

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