Abstract: A hydraulic exercise machine which employs the use of a fluid actuator and a servo pump mechanism controlled by an integrated microprocessor device. The dedicated microprocessor control is pre-programmed to provide the user with three (or more) exercise modalities; a manual mode, in which the user independently selects the concentric and eccentric force values; a pyramid mode, in which the user selects an automatic increasing progression of concentric and eccentric force values, which upon user failure to complete a full repetition, automatically reverses the force value progression; and a maximum strength test or exercise program, in which the user applies maximal muscular force against the resistance in both the concentric and eccentric phase of the exercise. Various performance parameters are displayed and recorded in real time.