Thread: Can't squat, Back pain

Leg press. Can still get some good leg development out of it if done properly. Bulgarian squats.

dumbell squats, front squats??

single leg work.

no leg press.

P I want to ask why no leg press? For future reference of course.

Originally Posted by Double D

P I want to ask why no leg press? For future reference of course.

pressing in a flexed position isn't always the best. also, coming down at that angle is tough on the back. People usually lack the mobility for the exercise too. I just don't think it is to safe if you are having back pain.

1) figure out why there is back pain.

2) fix the problem; don't just try and work around it.

Squatting is a movement of everyday life.....don't just stop doing it.

get the bar off your back if it hurts you. find other movements.

Thanks P, I will try to keep that in mind for future reference.

Some other suggestions:

Try belt squats. You do squats with a dip belt around your waist while standing up on two benches. See if those are okay for you.

Also, the leg press might be a viable option if you use one leg at a time. I don't like the bilateral leg press either. That pretty much guarantees extreme flexion of the lumbar spine when at the bottom of the movement. However, when you put one leg on the sled at a time, and place the other leg on the floor, a much better spinal position is maintained.

I would be careful with the 1-leg leg press with the sled coming down on you and SI Joint dysfunction. You run the risk for putting your SI joint further out of alignment (if one side is posteriorly tilted further than the other).

so funk - bulgarians, lunges?

Originally Posted by slip

so funk - bulgarians, lunges?

only after the SI joint is set back into place and a few weeks of specific strengthening exercises for the musculature (depending on how severe and how out of place the SI joint dysfunction is).

Originally Posted by CowPimp

Also, the leg press might be a viable option if you use one leg at a time. I don't like the bilateral leg press either. That pretty much guarantees extreme flexion of the lumbar spine when at the bottom of the movement. However, when you put one leg on the sled at a time, and place the other leg on the floor, a much better spinal position is maintained.

Some leg presses are designed for unilateral leg pressing. The one I enjoy using doesnt press the weight up, but out. The seat is almost 90 degrees.

I like leg presses alot. I love when you come low enough you can really feel that burn in your glute(s)
I hate it when people just do little pulses with heavey weights....