On one side of the fence, you have those who are interested soley in aesthetics and really only care about gaining citizenship to Quadszillaville, USA. | Reply to this comment, March 3, 2018 at 11:01 am Here are several factors that can cause spine or back pain during the leg press. Leg Machines. It should not be Another common criticism of the Leg Press is that it can put heavy pressure on the lower back. Any experience with it?? How to use the leg press safely. Bad Backs is Australia's leading back and joint pain resource organisation. | Reply to this comment, January 28, 2013 at 1:51 pm These machines still give you the same impact on your legs without compromising your back or abdomen, because instead of your legs being at a 90-degree angle with … You see, the reason why pretty much everyone can use more weight on the leg press as opposed to squats is because the machine itself provides all the external stability – there’s no inherent challenge to the body to stabilize anything. The horizontal leg machine is the easiest system since the user is usually prone or supine on the machine which is parallel to the ground. Just maybe more along the lines of 97%. Don't trade hard exercise like squats for easier ones like leg presses, either. Maintain a workable weight and you'll be able to perform the movements at an optimal speed. . Leg press is a preferable option if you have a neck, back, and shoulder injury. | Reply to this comment, September 23, 2011 at 9:36 am It’s good. | Reply to this comment, September 23, 2011 at 4:51 pm The leg press is an essential part of a fitness regimen, especially if you have any interest in developing your legs or lower body muscles. Speeding up and going too fast can also cause injury. I haven't used one in years. The leg press gets a bad rap among strength training purists because it's easier to perform than the squat. Mate, your squat is the only thing that matters. | Reply to this comment, March 21, 2013 at 8:10 am CHECK THIS OUT FIRST 1. | Reply to this comment, September 23, 2011 at 8:08 am | Reply to this comment, December 28, 2011 at 12:09 pm More to the point, with a power rack, I can have upwards of two to three athletes using it at once, and I can get A LOT more use out of it – squats, rack pulls, single leg variations, pull-up variations, push-ups off the pins, not to mention I can also hang a TRX off it as well. An appropriate level of resistance allows you to be challenged yet also operate the machine in a controlled fashion. Here are four dumbbell substitutions you can try. Research already confirms that free-weight squats generate a much greater hormonal response, owing to the greater degree of muscle mass engaged during the movement. Like so many things, you need to do what is right for you. Understandably, I realize this post is going to rub some people the wrong way, and it’s going to come across as me bashing the leg press. Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web site-many of the Granted, this is the small business owner in me speaking, but from a cost-benefit standpoint, leg press vs. squats is a no-brainer. Not only is locking the knees a cardinal sin on the leg press, but letting your legs come too close to your chest is too! | Reply to this comment, September 23, 2011 at 7:11 am | Reply to this comment, September 26, 2011 at 4:36 pm diagnosis or treatment. The bridge stabilizes and strengthens your core. Personally I’m not a big fan of mustaches. Thread Tools. | Reply to this comment, February 15, 2016 at 10:21 am While both moves involve hip and knee extension, that's about all they have in common. One of the most important advantages of a vertical leg press machine is the support your back receives throughout the exercise. When you exceed this reasonable amount of resistance, you lose control over the weight and this can create an imbalance in the joints. Leg Press Machines are designed to build up lower body (leg) strength. Going back to the point above, leg pressing “could” be considered functional in the context of people who are undergoing rehab. | Reply to this comment, April 15, 2017 at 10:31 pm Well, not really. The increased discomfort is caused by the powerful help flexor muscles (psoas) pulling on the front of the lumbar vertebrae as they lift the hugely heavy legs. I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize that the leg press IS an excellent choice if your main goal is hypertrophy and building legs the size of Kansas. I just equated leg presses to Tom Selleck’s mustache. | Reply to this comment, July 5, 2013 at 1:19 am Valid point. However, while I can’t really back this up with any recent scientific data, I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that global warming can be attributed solely to the effects Tom Sellecks’s mustache has on women. | Reply to this comment, September 21, 2012 at 6:53 am | Reply to this comment, October 23, 2020 at 7:16 am Alternatives for a Leg Press Machine Tavolacci also holds a master's degree in exercise physiology from Queens College. Yeah. A leg press is better than a squat for some things and not for others. The vertical leg crunch can also be an awesome progression for helping ... place a folded towel under the back and try to press into it the entire set. | Reply to this comment, July 28, 2015 at 5:21 pm | Reply to this comment, September 23, 2011 at 12:59 pm FreeCall Australia wide 1800 615 666, International +61 3 9020 2095. I can’t think of any instance where anyone will need to acquire the ability to push a load up an incline. The leg press is an essential part of a fitness regimen, especially if you have any interest in developing your legs or lower body muscles. While this resistance machine offers a lot of benefits, it poses potential danger if stability is not maintained throughout the workout. Copyright © Conversely, with squats, the body itself has to provide the INTERNAL stability to perform the movement correctly so as not to tip over, fall on your face, get stapled by the bar, etc. He is a certified health/fitness instructor and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Ever. Does it necessarily have to be loaded? It also works your butt and thighs, … | Reply to this comment, September 24, 2011 at 10:13 am But, I hope that my off the cuff post was able to shed some light on why I’m not a huge fan of leg presses. Invariably there’s going to be an internet warrior or two who’s going to chime in and tell me how much I suck at life and otherwise go off on some tangent about how I don’t know what I’m talking about – all from the comfy confines of his their parent’s basement. The material appearing on LIVESTRONG.COM is for educational use only. Properly positioning the seat on the machine stabilizes the entire body. There aren’t many sports (or real life events for that matter) which ask for an individual to step into a contraption, slap 400 lbs on, sit down, and proceed to push said 400 lbs up and down an incline at 45 degrees using what mounts to a eight inch range of motion. Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 1/8/21, Factors to Consider When Training Around Pain, Your Questions About Different Bodybuilding Exercises | Bodybuilding and Wellbeing Fitness, Weekend Fitness Tips #2 « Cube Dweller FitnessCube Dweller Fitness, [R2SR] a weight loss log - Page 7 - www.hardwarezone.com.sg, Weekly Review: Whey Protein Enhanced Coffee, Action Thinking, Garage Home Gym, FIT, Infographics & Leg Press | John PhungWeekly Review: Whey Protein Enhanced Coffee, Action Thinking, Garage Home Gym, FIT, Infographics & Leg Press, How to set up a very affordable home gym | BPPT. The seat-back of a leg press should be situated so that the legs sit just shy of a right angle, and not pushed too far forward. But when the world’s ninja of low back research says that leg presses aren’t necessarily a great idea due to the fact that, more often than not, they produce the mechanism for disc herniation, I’m going to listen to him. An Inclined Leg Press Machine is excellent in targeting your legs. | Reply to this comment, October 11, 2011 at 1:41 am Just use the leg press to get some quality reps in after your squats. Let your arms hang at your sides. They have specific uses and situations where they work best. That said, I’d be curious to hear everyone else’s opinion on this. Tony Gentilcore. Complete rest. No. Based in New York, John Tavolacci has been a leading exercise physiologist for over 14 years. Your feet should be hip-width apart and pressed flat against the platform; knees remain aligned with the tips of your shoes throughout the exercise. Steady, measured motions make a far more productive workout. | Reply to this comment, July 16, 2014 at 7:15 pm His resume includes stints in cardiac rehab, sports conditioning, physical therapy and corporate wellness. Copyright Policy Squatting, on the other hand, is a basic human movement pattern that everyone needs to be able to do on an almost daily basis. While many will state that the leg press is a safer alternative to squat variations, I will counter that argument by quoting Dr. Stuart McGill, who in his book Low Back Disorders, states: “the leg press sometimes causes the pelvis to rotate away from the back rest when the weight is lowered. The Worst Shoulder Exercises for Back Pain: Shoulder Press. | Reply to this comment, January 29, 2013 at 9:32 am It makes about as much sense as Tom Selleck shaving off his mustache. There aren’t many sports (or real life events for that matter) which ask for an individual to step into a contraption, slap 400 lbs on, sit down, and proceed to push said 400 lbs up and down an incline at 45 degrees using what mounts to a eight inch range of motion.Valid point. But ,why anyone would want to go out of their way to reinforce a faulty motor pattern that will more than likely end up promoting disc herniations is beyond me. This is just MY opinion, and believe me, I’m not that much of a pompous ass to think I’m 100% correct in my line of thinking. There are two types of Leg Machines. And that’s why I feel squats have MUCH MORE carryover to sport and real life events compared to the leg press – just by the mere fact that you actually have to, you know, work harder to complete the task. Since the leg press machine forces you to stick to a specific form, your risk of injury from improper technique is greatly reduced. | Reply to this comment, September 27, 2011 at 9:35 am How to Avoid Back Injuries While Using a Leg Press Machine, PARTNER & LICENSEE OF THE LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION. Or, ball squats recruit the same target muscles and replicate joint actions as the leg press. CBN.com – About 30 years ago we learned that straight legged sit-ups were bad for us because it caused back pain. 2. For example, most leg-press machines feature a … Certainly though, at least in my eyes, leg pressing, when dealing with HEALTHY individuals, IS NOT functional. Smith Machine. Leaf Group Ltd. You just load and go. Anyways, can anyone point me to a good leg press that won't put a lot of stress on my back? any of the products or services that are advertised on the web site. I ran. The Leg Press Exercise. “Stay off of the fixed angle (and especially the vertical) Smith machine for squats,” … and Without much hesistation, I’d argue that there isn’t any one exercise in the fitness community that’s more hotly debated than the leg press. Well, I kinda am bashing it – my bad. | Reply to this comment, March 27, 2017 at 2:21 pm LOL – zing!!! So before I continue on, let it be known that I, Tony Gentilcore, do solemnly swear that there IS a time and place to implement the leg press into someone’s program. | Reply to this comment, July 17, 2014 at 6:47 am advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. In the meantime, split the difference and use them both where applicable. , | Reply to this comment, August 21, 2013 at 10:16 am Excerpt: Guys, do any of you use or own a Vertical Leg Press? Bridge exercise. Show … In particular, the spinal column can become compromised when the leg press isn't used appropriately or in an unsafe manner. (2001). | Reply to this comment, September 23, 2011 at 7:17 am [1] The bottom line is that if you want to build better legs … This happens when the weight is too heavy, so your body responds to the overwhelming resistance by accelerating through the weight. 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