Leg Press VS. Squat...

[DIVINITUS]

Why do lots of people do both in their leg routine? I always thought of the squat as a more complete type of "leg press". Can someone explain a bit the benefits of doing both? Currently my leg day consists of squats, lunges and calf raises. Should I incorporate the leg press?

 

[The13ig13adWolf]

do you train legs once a week? you could always swap out the lunges for leg presses and add a ham dominant movement. full squats are superior and not interchangeable. just because other people are incorporating both doen't mean you should. tons of people use heinous form too ...

 

[The Monkey Man]

I used to use the leg press because I split front and rear legs...

So leg press on Quad dominant WO day...

Plus I would use it to isolate quads for THKNS

 

[CowPimp]

The benefit to using machines is you can often generate more force with the target musculature. The more your body has to do to maintain balance, the more force is dissipated from the prime movers to the stabilizers.

From a functional or athletic standpoint, the squat is king hands down. In terms of hypertrophy, it is debatable. I think including both is a reasonable proposition; just don't neglect some lower body movements that focus more on movement around the hip joint in exchange.

 

[slider]

on my leg/arm days I do both, the press is nice cuz you can really whale on the wieght and the lung is good cuz it promotes symitry and core strength. Start out the with press next do a hammy articulation(ie standing leg curl) and then do lunges. You'll be feeling it every where and it makes for a great superset

 

[The13ig13adWolf]

The benefit to using machines is you can often generate more force with the target musculature. The more your body has to do to maintain balance, the more force is dissipated from the prime movers to the stabilizers.

From a functional or athletic standpoint, the squat is king hands down. In terms of hypertrophy, it is debatable. I think including both is a reasonable proposition; just don't neglect some lower body movements that focus more on movement around the hip joint in exchange.

the reason you can generate more force is because it's on a fixed plane therefore taking your stabilizer muscles out of the equation entirely. that's not a good thing. leg press is good for isolation and that's all.

"the squat is king" = i agree (full squat that is ).

 

[eastbaylifter]

Probably related to what the others said, but some people go conservative on the weight when doing free-weight squats, but they can go all-out on the leg press. I think it's more a psychological rush to load up 20 plates than it is actual benefit.

 

[CowPimp]

the reason you can generate more force is because it's on a fixed plane therefore taking your stabilizer muscles out of the equation entirely. that's not a good thing. leg press is good for isolation and that's all.

I use hardly any machines and share your sentiment. However, my concern is not purely mass. I lift for maximum strength, relative strength, and strength endurance; mass is merely a byproduct for me and serves as a mean to my ends. The lifts I care about are all freeweight movements. Using machines frequently doesn't make all that much sense for me.

However, when it comes to bodybuilding, training for function is not a necessity. All you need to do is overload the muscles in question and cause a response from your endocrine system. Supplementing your training with movements like the leg press could be beneficial. I still typically suggest that people base their routines around freeweight movements. My point is merely that machine movements can have their place in a bodybuilder's routine.

"the squat is king" = i agree (full squat that is ).

Damned straight.

 

[JordanMang]

Supplement both into your workout. Your muslces like a change in routine. But, nothing beats below parallel deep squats.

 

[The13ig13adWolf]

My point is merely that machine movements can have their place in a bodybuilder's routine.

i concur .

 

[The Monkey Man]

i concur .

 

[redman12]

Full Squat will ALWAYS be king

-ALWAYS

 

[GFR]

the reason you can generate more force is because it's on a fixed plane therefore taking your stabilizer muscles out of the equation entirely. that's not a good thing. leg press is good for isolation and that's all.

"the squat is king" = i agree (full squat that is ).

I disagree 100%
The leg press is as good for mass as the squat.....if you are just training for Bodybuilding then either one is great.

Obviously doing both from time to time is best.

 

[garethhe]

I'm one of those previously-mentioned guys that does both squats and leg presses. I agree that the squat is king; that's why I do it first before any other lift. Towards the middle of my workout, my arms will tire and need a rest. Rather than spend five minutes picking my nose (which is generally frowned upon in my gym for some odd reason), I'll do a couple sets on the leg press, then get back to work on upper-body stuff.

Is there a different leg-only exercise I could substitute for the leg press?

 

[The13ig13adWolf]

that means i agree...

 

[The13ig13adWolf]

I disagree 100%
The leg press is as good for mass as the squat.....if you are just training for Bodybuilding then either one is great.

Obviously doing both from time to time is best.

what are you disagreeing with? i didn't mention anything about mass.

 

[GFR]

what are you disagreeing with? i didn't mention anything about mass.

This

the reason you can generate more force is because it's on a fixed plane therefore taking your stabilizer muscles out of the equation entirely. that's not a good thing. leg press is good for isolation and that's all.

"the squat is king" = i agree (full squat that is ).

Isolation movements are not the best thing for building mass.....I don't see the leg press as a true isolation movement for quads....................I do see thigh extensions as an isolation movement.

Love to see somebody build huge legs only doing thigh extensions.

 

[The13ig13adWolf]

do we agree that the full squat is a superior exercise?

 

[BigDyl]

do we agree that the full squat is a superior exercise?

I have a superior exersize I think I could show you...

 

[GFR]

Yes

 

[Stu]

I have a superior exersize I think I could show you...

i've always wondered what it must feel like to be shameless

 

[Squaggleboggin]

do we agree that the full squat is a superior exercise?

I would agree that free weights are superior to machines in nearly all aspects related to training I would consider worthy of my time.

 

[luke69duke69]

Man, I've been missing out. I thought most of the smart ass comments were in anabolic zone.

 

[The13ig13adWolf]

I have a superior exersize I think I could show you...

i think that would be the other way around sparky...

 

[The13ig13adWolf]

i've always wondered what it must feel like to be shameless

 

[Dale Mabry]

I have a superior exersize I think I could show you...

I believe yours to be an exercise in futility, young EMO ninja.

 

[BigDyl]

i think that would be the other way around sparky...

 

[BigDyl]

I believe yours to be an exercise in futility, young EMO ninja.

That was before i started EH, thanks very much.

 

[DIVINITUS]

I do legs once a week and because I play basketball I work them for sports more than building them up for looks. Currently I do my squats on the Smith Machine because I am still recovering from a torn ACL and I am still learning the proper form. I know Barbell is the best and I will be switching over in another month or so.

For my leg day how does squats (on smith machine, for now), lunges, calf raises and dead lifts sound?

 

[joshp]

I can't do squats because it bothers my bad right shoulder. If I place the barbell across shoulders and then reaching back around with my right arm to grasp the barbell hurts it. I have stuck with leg press because of this and also because I have a fear of getting an injury from bad form. I'd want some personal trainer to show me how to do it correctly and tell me if I'm doing it correctly before I do it, but even at that my shoulder just doesn't like the position it is put in on that exercise.

That being said I've gained a lot of mass in my legs through the leg press.