An exercise apparatus containing a supporting stand and at least one force transmission element, which is associated with a handle element and a pressure exerting element, the apparatus being suitable to exert pressure onto the knee area of a human user and the apparatus allowing the movement of the pressure-exerting element from a first position, in which the pressure-exerting element is in an anterolateral position relative to the body of the user, to a second position of the pressure exerting element, in which the pressure-exerting element is in an posterolateral position, while the pressure-exerting element exerts pressure onto the knee area of the human user. In another aspect, the invention encompasses an exercise apparatus containing a supporting stand and at least one force transmission element, which is associated with a handle element and a pressure-exerting element, in which the force transmission element is movable about a first pivot, wherein the first pivot is positioned in a ventral position relative to the body of a human user.