Leg Press/Injuries question

[wild pegasus]

Hello everybody! This is my first post on the board. If anybody could answer this I'd be pretty grateful.

I've been training legs for years but because of certain situations lately I've been forced to rely on the leg press as of late. I have a bad back so I've been trying to give it a little rest as of late. The problem is the leg presses have been giving me problems I haven't experienced with the squats before. The leg presses always seem to give me aches and pains around the buttocks and the hamstrings. It's weird because even though I've had lots of injuries before I've never really experienced this with my legs. The injuries don't feel like muscle injuries or even joint injuries. If I move my leg I don't really feel it anymore than usual. The quads are fine but I'll have problems around the back of the knee area and the very top of the hamstrings. Rescently some problems have occured with the buttocks area too. Has anyone else experienced this or know what I'm talking about? Any advice? Thanks very much in advance for any information.

 

[from zero]

Hmm ...

Why can't you squat? What, specifically, is your problem?

Are you letting your lower back come off the seat of the leg press? Because ... don't. I don't see how that could affect your hams though ...

Bump for more ideas.

 

[wild pegasus]

I can squat but once I start getting close to failure my back will be feeling it afterwards. I also don't have availability to a squat rack rack now. I'd go into the story but there's just so much stupidity abound it's not worth talking about. The only squat rack we have is one of those smith machine squat racks that force you to go into a straight line which is not safe.

I've been doing my best to keep my back straight on the seat and I'm pretty sure I've been doing a good job of that lately. I don't go down too far anymore because that takes your back off the seat. I also make sure my feet don't go below my knees but I still get those problems I mentioned earlier.

I'm 6 foot 1 with an ectomorphic like body. One question I'd like to know is about the back rest. It's adjustable and was wondering what angle it should be at. (The leg press is your typical leg press)

 

[bignate73]

angle the back rest as far back as you can get it. also stretch your hamstrings and calves ALOT. sounds like you have some tension in there. thats why you feel it at the tie in points.

 

[JKurz1]

#1 worst excuse...."I CAN'T DO SQUATS CAUSE OF MY BACK/KNEES"................well, if it's that bad, you really should be lifting at all, as most lifts will be taxing on the spine in some manner........become a cardio bunny..............it's a better decision that to for-go squats..............

 

[wild pegasus]

#1 worst excuse...."I CAN'T DO SQUATS CAUSE OF MY BACK/KNEES"................well, if it's that bad, you really should be lifting at all, as most lifts will be taxing on the spine in some manner........become a cardio bunny..............it's a better decision that to for-go squats..............

I loooove doing squats. Don't misunderstand me here.

 

[wild pegasus]

angle the back rest as far back as you can get it. also stretch your hamstrings and calves ALOT. sounds like you have some tension in there. thats why you feel it at the tie in points.

Thank you for the response. What differences does it make when say you have the back rest at different posistions?

 

[bignate73]

basically since you are a tall guy, your knees get closer to your chest.....faster. (shorter ROM).