Thread: is there any purpose to leg press?

It's nice for hanging your towel on.

Its a machine exercise, and the same criticisms of all machines should be applied to it. Some machines may feel more comfortable than others, but in the end they still have a forced plane of movement, take all stabilization muscles out of the picture, and make idiots think they are hardcore by putting 10 plates on.

it's good to have a change from squats every now and then. I prefer leg press for high rep (20-30) sets for safety reasons

I agree. I don't see anything wrong with Leg pressing either. especially if all you do other than that is squats. I love doing squats but often find it insufficiant if I don't do some other move for quads. I would love to have a leg press since I'm not digging lunges or other shit like that.
Following up a good squat routine with some heavy leg pressing would be ideal IMO.

try this for a bitching leg-press routine:

leg press - db stationary lunges - leg press 10,10,10 x 3

I find it awfully useful for doing my calf raises. Means I can load it up with alot of weight and my back doesn't have to take any of it. Other than that, I don't really find it productive for my leg growth or strength.

well my leg work out now is
squats
deadlifts
straight legged deadlifts
calf raises
and curls

Heavy ass back squats followed by heavy ass front squats!! If you have the capacity to do more, PUT SOME MORE WEIGHT ON THE BAR! JMO

I think they can have their place.

If at any given moment you have three lower push exercises in a program, what's wrong with incorporating it into a 3-6 week program every few months? Granted, you're not working stabalizers, but if you consistently perform squats and the like I don't think there's anything wrong with tackling a machine lift for brute leg power/strength. We accept the lat pulldown machine and the seated row. I realize there are more free-weight options for legs, but still....nothing wrong with it once in a while.

I think the problem is a lot of people become dependant on it and think it's the be-all-end-all. Because you can generally lift a hell of a lot more weight relative to your body weight it's a major ego boost. This is the problem with the leg press; it gives dumbasses an ill-deserved sense of pride (or arrogance).

Short answer: if you consinstly perform a variety of well-executed squats (not to mention deadlifts), it's fine to use the leg press occassionally for variety, so long as you keep your ego at the door and use it for training purposes.

Originally Posted by Gazhole

Its a machine exercise, and the same criticisms of all machines should be applied to it. Some machines may feel more comfortable than others, but in the end they still have a forced plane of movement, take all stabilization muscles out of the picture, and make idiots think they are hardcore by putting 10 plates on.

I do not think I am hardcore, thank you very much.

I like the leg press....not the yuppie-style leg press with the little 10lb plates and a pin, mind you...rather, the cybex type. (Nautilus sucks) Reason being, when I returned to the gym I wanted to condition legs before going after squats. Plus, since I always end up pushing too far too fast, I'd rather not bust my ass doing squats right out of the gate, lol.

I think as long as you understand exactly what machines are, and use them properly, or as a suppliment to good old compound work, they're not such a bad thing.

Read this:

Squat vs. Leg Press for Big Legs | BodyRecomposition - The Home of Lyle McDonald

KY

Originally Posted by DaMayor

I think as long as you understand exactly what machines are, and use them properly, or as a suppliment to good old compound work, they're not such a bad thing.

All things considered, i do agree with this. Its definitely helped my girlfriend build up the leg strength to be able to even attempt squats. A few months ago she couldn't even go past 1/4 ROM without losing stability, but after frequent split squats, leg press, and some step ups she's now almost able to go to parallel.

Theres still a tonne of work to be done, but at least now we have somewhere to start with the squat.

Nothing wrong with using some machine exercises. In my opinion, the inherent problems associated with machines only manifest themselves when they comprise the majority of things you are doing.= in the weight room.

I use the machine after free weights for single leg drop sets once a month. Everything I do is well past 90.

Pussies that pile on the weight for quarter reps run the risk of having someone do it properly with one leg the moment they leave the exercise. That in itself makes doing the leg press worth it.

But if you are weak and need to start with the leg press, wouldn't you still be better off starting with squats to build stability/core strength along with leg strength? For instance, if you build up alot of leg strength on the press first and then move to squats, you would have to reduce weight on the bar, not because of leg strength but because of stability/core strength thus leg strength is not being gained during this time. This is not to say they don't have a spot for some, its just that I don't have a spot for them.

They're good for depletion style workouts ala UD 2.0. Depletion with squats is rather dangerous and ill advised. There's not a person out there that's going to maintain form on 3x15, 45s RI, done TWICE on 1200 calories per day, low carb of course.

Originally Posted by danzik17

They're good for depletion style workouts ala UD 2.0. Depletion with squats is rather dangerous and ill advised. There's not a person out there that's going to maintain form on 3x15, 45s RI, done TWICE on 1200 calories per day, low carb of course.

yep +1

I throw a leg press in my routine every once in a while as an accessory movement.

Originally Posted by danzik17

They're good for depletion style workouts ala UD 2.0. Depletion with squats is rather dangerous and ill advised. There's not a person out there that's going to maintain form on 3x15, 45s RI, done TWICE on 1200 calories per day, low carb of course.

That's encouraging...

There are rarely any instances where free weights aren't better.

Originally Posted by KelJu

There are rarely any instances where free weights aren't better.

Calves? Hard to do heavy calf raises with free weights, and this is a good substitute for a calf machine if your gym doesnt have one

I think the leg press machine is safer. You don't really have to concentrate as much on form and so if you have a lot on your mind you can just do presses without stressing too much about your knees or your back.

it is safer, but it only seems to work one muscle . where squats seem to do everything from your torso and down.

Originally Posted by nova1970sb

it is safer, but it only seems to work one muscle . where squats seem to do everything from your torso and down.

You definitely work multiple muscle groups with the legs press, but yes, not nearly as much muscle mass as you work when performing squats.

I just think people overreact to information sometimes. Machines are not all bad all the time. That's an extremely myopic view. In general, free weights are superior, and they should comprise the majority of your program. However, this does not mean you should never use any machines under any circumstances.

The leg press machine has been a huge part of my rehab from ACL surgery. I am still not allowed to do full squats. I have to wait until May (a year past surgery).

Originally Posted by T_man

Calves? Hard to do heavy calf raises with free weights, and this is a good substitute for a calf machine if your gym doesnt have one

I'm talking about doing leg presses, not the other shit people think up to do on it. Leg presses suck.

Originally Posted by T_man

Calves? Hard to do heavy calf raises with free weights, and this is a good substitute for a calf machine if your gym doesnt have one

I venture to say damn near impossible to do calves with free weights. It's a balance thing. You can't get a full range of motion with a barbell on your neck or dumbbells in your hands. I need a machine for calves too.

i like the leg press.but i was wondering what people think about hack squats.i do barbell hack squats,sometimes.