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Quadriceps Strengthening (SLR / Terminal Knee Extension)

Draftstrength90%beginner⬤ strong evidence
View FHIR resourceFHIR R4 ActivityDefinition — the interoperable form of this exercise

Positions & Range of Motion

Start
SLR: supine with the exercising knee locked straight, opposite knee bent, pelvis level. TKE: standing with a band behind the knee
End
SLR: locked leg lifted to ~45° with quad driving the lift. TKE: knee extended the final 30° pushing the back of the knee into the band
Range of Motion
SLR: 0–45° hip flexion with knee locked; TKE: terminal ~30–0° knee extension

How to Perform

Foundational knee exercises combining straight leg raises and terminal knee extension. SLR: supine with knee locked, lift leg to 45°. TKE: standing with band behind knee, extend the last 30°. Both target quadriceps for OA management, improving pain, function, and joint stability through concentric and eccentric strengthening.

Watch on YouTube↗

Opens a YouTube search for “Quadriceps Strengthening (SLR / Terminal Knee Extension)”

Equipment:resistance band
Starting position: supine

Coaching Cues

  1. 1

    Locked knee, quiet trunk — quad drives the lift

    (verbal)
  2. 2

    Lift the heel toward the ceiling on the SLR

    (verbal)
  3. 3

    Push the back of the knee into the band on TKE

    (verbal)
  4. 4

    Both sides of the pelvis stay equally pressed down

    (tactile)

Evidence-Based Dosing & EMG Data

Recommended Dosing

3×10-15 reps; moderate intensity 3x/week

Muscles Involved (4)

Primary Movers

Quadriceps Femoris— VMO emphasis in TKE for patellar tracking
Rectus Femoris— Active in SLR (two-joint)

Secondary Movers

Iliopsoas— Hip flexion component of SLR

Lengthened / Stretched

Hamstrings (Group)— AUDIT: The SLR component flexes the hip with the knee extended, placing the hamstrings on stretch as the antagonist to the hip flexors.

Easier Variations ↓

1

Quad Sets

Seated or supine with leg straight. Tighten the thigh muscle to push the knee down. Hold 5-10 seconds. Isometric foundation.

2

Short-Arc Quad

Place a roll under the knee, extend only the lower leg. Targets terminal extension with reduced hip flexor demand.

Harder Variations ↑

1

Ankle Weight SLR

Add progressive ankle weights (1-5 lbs) for increased resistance.

2

Eccentric Step-Down

Stand on a step, slowly lower the opposite foot to the ground. Eccentric quad loading in a functional pattern.

3

Progress to eccentric-step-down

AUDIT: Progress from open-chain quad control to closed-chain eccentric quad loading once pain-free.

Target Movements (2)

Knee ExtensionTibiofemoral Joint
Hip FlexionHip Joint (Coxofemoral)

Why This Exercise Matters

Everyday activities this exercise helps you do — essential means it directly trains the capacity the task needs:

WalkingStair ClimbingSquat to StandFloor Transfers (Sit-to-Floor-to-Stand)

Goals This Helps With

Rehab, performance, prevention, and mobility goals this exercise supports — essential means it's a cornerstone:

Knee OsteoarthritisrehabPatellofemoral (Knee) Painrehab

Research Notes

Evidence: quadriceps strengthening is fundamental for knee OA — improves pain, function, and joint stability [VA 2020, Sharma 2021, Zeng 2022]. Both concentric and eccentric modes effective [VA 2020].

Evidence Sources (9)