Leg press only ?

[solrosenberg]

I neglect my legs big time. I am probably known as an "upper body builder". I have a bad back and can't do squats and all I have is a leg press machine. Is it possible to get "respectable" legs by only doing leg presses ? I know they will never catch the rest of me , and I am fine with that. I only want respectibility. yes or no ?

 

[smtimelevi]

I have a friend that never does squats cuz of his knees but still has decent legs.
There are all kinds of things you can do on the leg press. One leggers, heavy partials, wide stance, high stance.
What about lunges.

 

[solrosenberg]

I have a friend that never does squats cuz of his knees but still has decent legs.
There are all kinds of things you can do on the leg press. One leggers, heavy partials, wide stance, high stance.
What about lunges.

I have never tried lunges. I also have a leg curl / leg extension, but my Doc said no leg curls due to the strain on my lower back. I have spondylolithesis and a couple degenerative discs. I can pretty much anything except deadlifts, bent over rows, squats, hack squats and leg curls. I may just hit the leg presses and leg extensions hard and see what happens. I am an expierenced "upper body builder", and feel it's time to hit the legs.

 

[Lee]

it is very possible to get respectable legs without squats. if you arent looking for massive bb'er legs that is.

 

[b fold the truth]

I have a bad back and can't do squats and all I have is a leg press machine.

From Charles Poliquin:

If you can walk into my office, you can squat in the gym.

 

[Tatyana]

I have never tried lunges. I also have a leg curl / leg extension, but my Doc said no leg curls due to the strain on my lower back. I have spondylolithesis and a couple degenerative discs. I can pretty much anything except deadlifts, bent over rows, squats, hack squats and leg curls. I may just hit the leg presses and leg extensions hard and see what happens. I am an expierenced "upper body builder", and feel it's time to hit the legs.

What sort of doctor are you seeing? An orthopaedic surgeon?

I would recommend getting seen by a specialist in the skeleton and musculature.

Doctors have to learn so much about the human body, it is often difficult for them to specialise in areas such as exercise mechanics etc.

I find leg press puts a lot of stress on my lower back, so I do find it an odd thing for your doctor to say, whereas leg curls, none.

Also you do not necessarily have to go really heavy either, higher volume training is often effective for legs.

 

[nikkita]

there are lots of machines that help you target your leg from all angles for not relying only on leg presses

 

[u418936]

I have a bad back and can't do squats and all I have is a leg press machine.

To get a decent ROM on a leg press, you have to bring your knees to your chest, which will make your lower back flex. Squatting with good form is far safer for your lower back than leg pressing is.

 

[flex229]

i've built some nice legs with the help of heavy leg presses and sissy squats.

 

[safety4lyfe]

my $0.02...put the big boy pants on and start doing squats. not cutting you down, probably not what you want to hear, but you need to probably see a professional(s) that will help get you to the squat rack. leg press is not good for your knees nor lower back.

try lunges or squats holding dumbies. when in my endurance phase, i love doing squats w/ dumbies