Leg Extensions

[paradiso]

In the last few weeks while doing leg extensions, my knees started to hurt while extending them. In addition, they started to “crunch” while bringing them down.
I decreased the weight SUBSTANTIALLY but it didn’t help much plus I felt like I am not even working my quads anymore.
Now, I got back into it but my weight still is well below of what I used to do…also, I don’t want to ‘injure’ them, like before.

Any ideas why that happened? Also, is there any alternatives or replacements? Maybe I am doing something wrong…..

Thanks for any help!

Paradiso

 

[endpoint]

its a machine......it may not agree with your particular motions and dimensions.
try free weights

 

[David Schwimmer]

You using any gear (winny perhaps)? Although the description you gave was rather vague, it seems like perhaps you may need a glucosamine/chondriton mixture to lube up those joints. Can I ask: do you get the same sensation when you squat?

 

[IronLion]

Those leg extension machines put ungodly stress on my patellar tendons leading to symptoms like those you described. I don't do leg extensions ever anymore....I use leg press occasionally, hack squats occasionally, and most of the time it is just good old heavy front squats for my quads.

 

[paradiso]

Squats don’t give me any problems, at least none so far. The only time I experience this pain or ‘crunch’ in the knees is when I do leg extensions. Although the pain has improved, the weight that I lift is nothing compared to what I did before…I tried increasing it but then I get back to square 1.
I do think that glucosamine/chondriton should be something to think about because I get a similar ‘crunch’ when I do french curls.

Paradiso

 

[paradiso]

Those leg extension machines put ungodly stress on my patellar tendons leading to symptoms like those you described. I don't do leg extensions ever anymore....I use leg press occasionally, hack squats occasionally, and most of the time it is just good old heavy front squats for my quads.

Yeah...that machine doesn't agree with me either...Although I see results (or at least saw), now I can't even get a good workout while using it because of the pain.

I guess I will have to modify my leg routine.

Thanks,

Paradiso

 

[Atomic Punk]

Bro, who cares if you are going heavy or not? I mean, it aint like you'll be entering any leg extension competitions anytime soon, right? That lift is a shaping exercise, where amounts of weight are irrelevant. Lighten the weights as you have been doing. Focus on a 4-second count on your negative, and a 2-second count coming up. That way, you should be able to get substantial effect(burn) out of rather insignifigant amounts of weight. It sounds to me(correct me if I am mistaken please), that the fact you can't do the weight amounts you could before on Extensions, is what has you the most concerned. I'm telling you that it isn't important on that exercise. Go heavy on your Squats, Leg Preses, Fronts squats, or whatever is the base exercise(s) of your Quad routine. Focus on form, control, and function with the shapers. Get that Lactic Acid flowing bro. You'll be ok soon enough, and if you want to up the weights, then proceed with caution thereafter.

 

[IronLion]

You can't "shape" a muscle with an exercise, period. Your muscle shape is genetically predetermined and won't change through exercise. A muscle can increase in fiber size (hypertrophy) or in density (hyperplasia). The shape however is what it is.

 

[Atomic Punk]

You can't "shape" a muscle with an exercise, period. Your muscle shape is genetically predetermined and won't change through exercise. A muscle can increase in fiber size (hypertrophy) or in density (hyperplasia). The shape however is what it is.

It still follows though(in my opinion) that an exercise such as that one better serves the lifter when form & control are focused on rather than how heavy the weight. Nothing wrong with going heavy, but not at the expense of form & control---not to mentiopn his pain. I do agree with you about the genetics brother. I guess "isolator"is a better word than shaper, now that you mentioned it. I didn't mean to sound misleading or anything.

 

[paradiso]

It still follows though(in my opinion) that an exercise such as that one better serves the lifter when form & control are focused on rather than how heavy the weight. Nothing wrong with going heavy, but not at the expense of form & control---not to mentiopn his pain. I do agree with you about the genetics brother. I guess "isolator"is a better word than shaper, now that you mentioned it. I didn't mean to sound misleading or anything.

Actually, I always try to maintain proper form while performing any type of exercise. So, that isn’t an issue with me.
What got me thinking was that the amount of weight that I use now is below what I am used to but from what I have been reading here, I see that the exercise can be performed with a smaller amount of weight and still get the benefits.

My usually upper-leg routine would be…
Squats, hack squats, leg extensions, leg curls with Romanian deadlifts at times.

Any suggestions and/or additions?