Let extensions are bad for certain knee issues. If I use the. I add a light band and it seems to do something g that, even though it’s adding resistance to the weight, my knees suddenly dont mind the machine.
I’ve leArned to work legs hard by adding slow rep decentric movements (like 5-6 sec), static holds in the hole, and quarter reps in the hole, often all theee In every rep of every set of squats. Also not locking you’re knees out at the top which means tension is never released on the quads. Throw these four things into a rep and a 225 squat for 12 becomes as effective for muscle building as 335 or more for 12. That way muscles are getting destroyed without destroying bones, ligaments and tendons. Think mountain dog kind of methods.
You can do similar things on leg press machine but it’s not the same.
Belt squats are also my friend.
DB walking lunges can be effective if you do em right.
Finishing with some BW sissy squats have brought my sweeps more than they used to be.