Are leg presses worth it?

[muslhed1971]

I used to do heavy leg presses (after squats) years ago and then heard that they really don't do much for leg development. I have been doing squats, pull throughs, good mornings, and leg curls for my legs along with step ups occasionally. Just wanted to know what you guys think. Should I reincorporate them in my routine or avoid them alltogether. Please answer only if you have the wheels to back up your opinion.

 

[tonyatl]

I used to do heavy leg presses (after squats) years ago and then heard that they really don't do much for leg development. I have been doing squats, pull throughs, good mornings, and leg curls for my legs along with step ups occasionally. Just wanted to know what you guys think. Should I reincorporate them in my routine or avoid them alltogether. Please answer only if you have the wheels to back up your opinion.

that's what i do: squats, leg presses, leg curls, done.....

i put 10 plates (wheels ? ) on each side and it is not a straight press....it's a cybex machine i believe that has an up and out move to it but nevertheless i would classify as a press...i think it is a great exercise (but have no scientific/kineselogical proof for it ) and is much easier on the back than many other leg movements....

the bigger guys at my gym do it as well so i have to think it brings significant benefit....

of course nothing beats a squat (if it's done right!!)....

 

[Quasimoto]

Careful with leg presses if your intentions are to ever compete in Bodybuilding . I typically was a squat, hack, lunges and Leg extension guy. Someone i trusted convinced me of the value of the LP . I integrated it into my routine and the next yr as i was dieting, my waist was huge compared to yrs before. I am an ass to the grass squatter, and took the same range of motion with the LP, but found that when my thighs went past parallel my hips would rotate up and my obliques would contract to hold them in place, and i inadvertently began using my Ob's in the lift. And 8 months later my waist was huge onstage. I never do Lp's anymore. I am 6'4 and usually 240-245 onstage, and i have to have a tiny waist to pull off the V taper . That yr i was as lean as i always get, but looked to thick in the middle . Hope this helps .

 

[wic2111]

Leg Presses are good training tool to get the bar off your back and the shock your muscles with something new. You have to be careful on letting your form slip for more wieght which if easier to do with a LP. They are never a mainstay just something different from time to time.

 

[Phreezer]

Leg presses may be good as an occassional alternative to squating. But in no way should take the place of squats as your primary lower body exercise, unless you are rehabing some kind of injury.

 

[muslhed1971]

Leg presses may be good as an occassional alternative to squating. But in no way should take the place of squats as your primary lower body exercise, unless you are rehabing some kind of injury.

Interesting post. I actually stopped doing them years ago because they made my knees ache so bad. Then I started concentrating more on my squats and other lifts and the problem went away. It just seemed that the brunt of the weight and pressure was going directly to my knees. Squats never bothered me that way. I guess I just wanted to make sure I was not missing out on anything so I'll probably just keep on the squats and other lifts.
Thanks bros!

 

[Turf Toes]

I always compare leg presses to running on a treadmill. People run on treadmills because they don't want to run outside because "it hurts to bad". People do leg presses because squats "hurt to bad". I alway get a kick out of going to the gym and see guys stack 10, 45 pound plates on each side (keeping in mind there are 100 pound plates right next to therm) and walk around like king shit of terd island. But then they don't squat afterwards...I wonder why. NOTHING can take the place of squats (and free weights) and imo leg presses should only be used to warm up for squats, nothing more.

 

[bearze34]

I always compare leg presses to running on a treadmill. People run on treadmills because they don't want to run outside because "it hurts to bad". People do leg presses because squats "hurt to bad". I alway get a kick out of going to the gym and see guys stack 10, 45 pound plates on each side (keeping in mind there are 100 pound plates right next to therm) and walk around like king shit of terd island. But then they don't squat afterwards...I wonder why. NOTHING can take the place of squats (and free weights) and imo leg presses should only be used to warm up for squats, nothing more.

And, the ones that really load up the machine tend to do a half or a quarter of a press. If one does a press where they let the sled come down as far as possible I guarantee you loading up the sled won't be an issue for most. It may hurt your ego, but it won't be an issue.

 

[muslhed1971]

I always compare leg presses to running on a treadmill. People run on treadmills because they don't want to run outside because "it hurts to bad". People do leg presses because squats "hurt to bad". I alway get a kick out of going to the gym and see guys stack 10, 45 pound plates on each side (keeping in mind there are 100 pound plates right next to therm) and walk around like king shit of terd island. But then they don't squat afterwards...I wonder why. NOTHING can take the place of squats (and free weights) and imo leg presses should only be used to warm up for squats, nothing more.

"King shit of terd island" lmao bro! Aren't those the ones that move the sled about 6 inches (if that). There's some serious deep muscle hypertrophy going on there!!!

 

[Turf Toes]

"King shit of terd island" lmao bro! Aren't those the ones that move the sled about 6 inches (if that). There's some serious deep muscle hypertrophy going on there!!!

lol...you ever notice too that the people who load up the sled always have their hands on their knees to have that extra push. I like that too.

And bearze34...lol, I forgot to say that too, they only go down 6 inches and bounce it off their chest and leave a big GRRRRRR!!! when they do it.

But then there is the squaters too that wear the big lifting belt with the three rolls of tape around their legs and the half pound of chalk. They put 400 pounds on the rack, go down four inches, leave out a big GRRRRRR!!! and call it a day. Funny shit!

 

[Phreezer]

Interesting post. I actually stopped doing them years ago because they made my knees ache so bad. Then I started concentrating more on my squats and other lifts and the problem went away. It just seemed that the brunt of the weight and pressure was going directly to my knees. Squats never bothered me that way. I guess I just wanted to make sure I was not missing out on anything so I'll probably just keep on the squats and other lifts.
Thanks bros!

If I had to guess as to the reason your knees were hurting after doing leg presses I'd say it's probably because your feet were too low on the sled (the plate where you place your feet) And they may have been too close together, or both. The same actually holds true for squats as well. If your hips are weak and your feet are too close together, your knees will turn in when you squat which puts a lot of pressure on your knees. Imagine placing a rock in a hinge, when you close the door with the rock in the hinge; what will happen to the hinge? It will break. Same thing with your knees. When you get to the bottom of the lift and your knees turn in when you push up, your hips are too weak/your form is pisspoor/ or both and your knees will suffer for it (just like the hinge).

 

[muslhed1971]

If I had to guess as to the reason your knees were hurting after doing leg presses I'd say it's probably because your feet were too low on the sled (the plate where you place your feet) And they may have been too close together, or both. The same actually holds true for squats as well. If your hips are weak and your feet are too close together, your knees will turn in when you squat which puts a lot of pressure on your knees. Imagine placing a rock in a hinge, when you close the door with the rock in the hinge; what will happen to the hinge? It will break. Same thing with your knees. When you get to the bottom of the lift and your knees turn in when you push up, your hips are too weak/your form is pisspoor/ or both and your knees will suffer for it (just like the hinge).

Actually you are right on the nose with that Phreezer. When I did my presses I kept my feet fairly close together (feet high on the platform though pushing with my heels) as I thought this would hit the outer part of my quads better. Guess that's where the mistake lies.

 

[Joker]

Careful with leg presses if your intentions are to ever compete in Bodybuilding . I typically was a squat, hack, lunges and Leg extension guy. Someone i trusted convinced me of the value of the LP . I integrated it into my routine and the next yr as i was dieting, my waist was huge compared to yrs before. I am an ass to the grass squatter, and took the same range of motion with the LP, but found that when my thighs went past parallel my hips would rotate up and my obliques would contract to hold them in place, and i inadvertently began using my Ob's in the lift. And 8 months later my waist was huge onstage. I never do Lp's anymore. I am 6'4 and usually 240-245 onstage, and i have to have a tiny waist to pull off the V taper . That yr i was as lean as i always get, but looked to thick in the middle . Hope this helps .

I agree completely with Quasi on this one. Not to metion the FACT that it puts dangerous shear on the ligaments of the low back. I'll probably get flamed into the ground for saying so, but I wish they would take all the leg press machines and melt them down to make more squat racks. I think they are utterly useless and should be put on the avoid list. Just my opinion, though.

Joker

 

[tonyatl]

I agree completely with Quasi on this one. Not to metion the FACT that it puts dangerous shear on the ligaments of the low back. I'll probably get flamed into the ground for saying so, but I wish they would take all the leg press machines and melt them down to make more squat racks. I think they are utterly useless and should be put on the avoid list. Just my opinion, though.

Joker

i won't flame u to the ground maybe just down to your asshole : )...
i do squats as my core leg exercise but the leg presses are good on my lower back and a good auxillary to squats.....i don't see why they are useless - it has many of the benefits of a squat (though not all ) and the action in both cases is the same - pressing...angle and emphasis is differnent but that is good....

and for your alls fucking information i go down more than 4".... 5" on a good day.... actually i do a full range movement but not past where my pelvis tilts ( my machine is a modified sled )

 

[eleven11]

I've always done LP's in the past because of some back/neck injuries. I've gottin up to 1035lbs, for someone that huvers around 200lbs I thought that was pretty good but my legs never got as big as I thought they should. I've gottin more results out of 7months of squating that the last few years of presses.......................11

 

[Joker]

i won't flame u to the ground maybe just down to your asshole : )...
i do squats as my core leg exercise but the leg presses are good on my lower back and a good auxillary to squats.....i don't see why they are useless - it has many of the benefits of a squat (though not all ) and the action in both cases is the same - pressing...angle and emphasis is differnent but that is good....

and for your alls fucking information i go down more than 4".... 5" on a good day.... actually i do a full range movement but not past where my pelvis tilts ( my machine is a modified sled )

Actually, I could use a good flaming by my asshole. It'll singe off my bunghole hairs and I'll get more effective asswipes. And if it wasn't for the shear on the low back, I'd be down. But there are so many different types of lunges (AND squats, for that matter) that can be used much more safely and far more effectively than leg presses for "auxillary" work without the detriments of leg pressing. And an additional benefit of using lunges is that you can put rotational force on the knee joint to strengthen ligaments and prevent injury. You will never get that with leg presses. But if it works for ya, God Bless You! Peace...

Joker

 

[bearze34]

lol...you ever notice too that the people who load up the sled always have their hands on their knees to have that extra push. I like that too.

And bearze34...lol, I forgot to say that too, they only go down 6 inches and bounce it off their chest and leave a big GRRRRRR!!! when they do it.

But then there is the squaters too that wear the big lifting belt with the three rolls of tape around their legs and the half pound of chalk. They put 400 pounds on the rack, go down four inches, leave out a big GRRRRRR!!! and call it a day. Funny shit!

No shit. There was a guy tonite at the gym that was making all kinds of noise. I was kind of impresed when I saw him load up the bar with about 245 for a seated military. He groaned so loud everyone in the gym thought he took a shit and then his spotter helped him get the bar off of the rack. He proceeded to drop it about 6-8 inches, lift it, and triumphantly re-rack it. I was cracking up and I wasn't the only one.

 

[Gavin Laird]

If you need to unload the lumbars do belt squats (ya dont need the machine just pad out a chinning / dipping belt and stand on wood blocks so the plates dont hit the ground). More natural squatting motion, no disc compression, no lumabr shear, plenty quad work and no problems.

Cheers,

Gav.

 

[gwwestbro]

After doing 3 months of progressively heavier leg presses, ending with 325 a few months ago, my left hip and the tendon area on the upper inside of my left thigh hurt when I move my leg in or out laterally. I have rested them as much as I can for the last few weeks, but there seems to be no improvement in the pain. Has anyone else had this reaction to squats or leg presses?

 

[billydidit]

Careful with leg presses if your intentions are to ever compete in Bodybuilding . I typically was a squat, hack, lunges and Leg extension guy. Someone i trusted convinced me of the value of the LP . I integrated it into my routine and the next yr as i was dieting, my waist was huge compared to yrs before. I am an ass to the grass squatter, and took the same range of motion with the LP, but found that when my thighs went past parallel my hips would rotate up and my obliques would contract to hold them in place, and i inadvertently began using my Ob's in the lift. And 8 months later my waist was huge onstage. I never do Lp's anymore. I am 6'4 and usually 240-245 onstage, and i have to have a tiny waist to pull off the V taper . That yr i was as lean as i always get, but looked to thick in the middle . Hope this helps .

That's why I only use the LP machines that have the pin in the back that let you lower the back rest way down. Frees me up and gives me more space. My bro about your weight but about 6'2" broke his back last year doin squats. Now he is fused and walks with a cane. So I go lighter on the squats, more or less shooting for perfect form and eternal burn. I save the heavy weight for the LP machine I was jsut telling you about. But my fav would have to be leg extensions.

peace

-bj