Lever Chair Squat

The Lever Chair Squat targets glutes and quads effectively using a machine, promoting lower body strength and stability with controlled movement.

IntermediateThighs Leverage machine

Movement: Compound
Force: Push
Per set: 1 min
Rest: 2 min

Get Ellim — Free

Free · iPhone only · Available on the App Store

Variations of Lever Chair Squat

Compound

Lever Linear Hack Squat

Thighs · Quadriceps · Leverage machine

Intermediate

Compound

Sled Reverse Hack Squat

Thighs · Gluteus Maximus · Sled machine

Advanced

Compound

Sled Closer Hack Squat

Thighs · Gluteus Maximus · Sled machine

Intermediate

Compound

Lever Seated Squat

Thighs · Gluteus Maximus · Leverage machine

Intermediate

Description

A lever chair squat is a lower body exercise that focuses primarily on the muscles in your butt, hips, and thighs. It's done using a lever machine.

Save Lever Chair Squat to a routine

Log sets, reps, and weight as you train — free in the Ellim app.

Get Ellim — Free

How to do Lever Chair Squat

01
Setup
Adjust the lever chair machine so the seat pad is at a height where your thighs are parallel to the floor or slightly below when seated.
02
Setup
Position your feet flat on the foot platform, roughly shoulder-width apart, with toes pointing slightly outward. Engage your core and keep your back pressed against the backrest.
03
Inhale as you slowly lower the resistance by extending your knees and hips, allowing the chair to move downward with controlled movement.
04
Continue lowering until your thighs are parallel to the floor or the machine reaches its lowest comfortable point, ensuring your heels remain grounded on the platform.
05
Exhale as you powerfully push through your heels and glutes to drive the chair back up to the starting position, fully extending your hips and knees without locking them.
06
Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement before beginning the next repetition, maintaining continuous tension on the target muscles.

Tips

Focus on driving through your heels to maximize glute activation and maintain balance throughout the movement, rather than pushing through your toes.
Keep your chest lifted and shoulders back, preventing your upper body from rounding forward or losing contact with the backrest during the squat.
Control both the eccentric (lowering) and concentric (lifting) phases of the squat to enhance muscle time under tension and improve strength gains.
Engage your core by bracing your abdominal muscles, which helps stabilize your spine and prevents excessive arching or rounding of the lower back.

Common mistakes

Rounding the lower back during the descent puts undue stress on the spine; instead, maintain a neutral spine by keeping your core engaged and chest up.
Allowing knees to cave inward (valgus collapse) reduces glute activation and can strain knee joints; actively push your knees outward in line with your toes throughout the movement.
Not going deep enough limits the range of motion and muscle activation; ensure you lower until your thighs are parallel to the floor or slightly below for optimal results.

In the Ellim app, Lever Chair Squat unlocks

Free — no subscription needed

Log sets, reps, and weight
Track every set as you train
See your strength curve
Performance graphs across all sessions
Add to a routine
Save into a custom workout in one tap
Rest timer with Live Activity
Dynamic Island countdown between sets
HealthKit sync
Workouts flow to Apple Health
3,500+ exercise library
Search, filter, and pick variations offline

Ready to train lever chair squat?

Get Ellim — Free

Questions

What muscles does Lever Chair Squat work?

Lever Chair Squat primarily targets Gluteus Maximus, Quadriceps. Secondary muscles include Adductor Magnus, Soleus.

Is Lever Chair Squat good for beginners?

Lever Chair Squat is rated intermediate. Beginners can still attempt it with lighter weight and careful form, but it's best to master easier variations first.

What equipment do I need for Lever Chair Squat?

You need Leverage machine to perform Lever Chair Squat. If you don't have this equipment, look for variations that target the same muscles with what you have available.

What are the best tips for Lever Chair Squat?

Focus on driving through your heels to maximize glute activation and maintain balance throughout the movement, rather than pushing through your toes. Keep your chest lifted and shoulders back, preventing your upper body from rounding forward or losing contact with the backrest during the squat. Control both the eccentric (lowering) and concentric (lifting) phases of the squat to enhance muscle time under tension and improve strength gains. Engage your core by bracing your abdominal muscles, which helps stabilize your spine and prevents excessive arching or rounding of the lower back.

What are common mistakes when doing Lever Chair Squat?

Rounding the lower back during the descent puts undue stress on the spine; instead, maintain a neutral spine by keeping your core engaged and chest up. Allowing knees to cave inward (valgus collapse) reduces glute activation and can strain knee joints; actively push your knees outward in line with your toes throughout the movement. Not going deep enough limits the range of motion and muscle activation; ensure you lower until your thighs are parallel to the floor or slightly below for optimal results.