squats and leg presses compressing your spine?

[biteme]

I always feel scrunched up after doing my 1100 pound leg presses followed by squats. Can it actually make you shorter? Would gravity boots help or are they a scam? I don't think hanging on the pullup bar does any good since you are just stretching your lats.

 

[yomama]

I always feel scrunched up after doing my 1100 pound leg presses followed by squats. Can it actually make you shorter? Would gravity boots help or are they a scam? I don't think hanging on the pullup bar does any good since you are just stretching your lats.

How can leg presses compress your spine, since you're laying down and not standing up. I can see how that could happen with squats, over time. I hate squats, never do them again. All they do is fuck your body up. I'll stick with heavy lunges, leg presses, leg extentions, and leg curls.

 

[H_T_]

you know, i've been wonderin' the same thing. i swear my brother and i were the same height but my mom told me the other day that he was taller, i don't know, i do alot of squats, deadlifts, partial DL's, good mornings, etc. never thought that shit would compact me.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

try carrying the bar lower on your back when you squat..instead of high on the neck

 

[superqt4u2nv]

It does happen with heavy squats I beleive Needsize posted a while back that is he is full inch short since lifting real heavy.

 

[biteme]

It does happen with heavy squats I beleive Needsize posted a while back that is he is full inch short since lifting real heavy.

No more squats!

 

[superqt4u2nv]

No more squats!

vanity! How tall are you?

 

[CrazyK]

It does happen with heavy squats I beleive Needsize posted a while back that is he is full inch short since lifting real heavy.

It's only temporary. You're taller in the morning than you are in the evening, reason is all of those little crevices between your joints and vertabre get compressed through out the day, just by standing and walking around. The next morning, it's right back to normal.

 

[anthrax]

Of course

Squat compress the disks making you shorter

But it's only temporary

 

[wnt2bBeast]

id gladly sacrifice a full 12 inches for a 1k squat

 

[biteme]

vanity! How tall are you?

You already forgot? Shame on you.

 

[biteme]

Of course

Squat compress the disks making you shorter

But it's only temporary

How so?

 

[anthrax]

How so?

The spine shortens due to disc dehydration and desiccation

So after a god hydratation and a night sleep where there is no compression force on your spine you'll recover

 

[Sassy69]

Leg presses apparently are hell on your back because the form of the machine puts a lot of pressure on your back. My squats were never all that great, but I always included leg press around 4-5 plates, 3-4 sets, whatever reps I had in me. Now I'm seeing a chiropractor of tendonitis in my lower back and a rotated pelvis. He said no more leg press I'm waiting to see what sort of workouts I can do after a couple more weeks of the chiro & some physical therapy.

 

[biteme]

The spine shortens due to disc dehydration and desiccation

So after a god hydratation and a night sleep where there is no compression force on your spine you'll recover

Even from 500 lbs. sitting on yor back? I always wonder if that can't make you permanently shorter after so many sessions.

 

[DIVISION]

I always feel scrunched up after doing my 1100 pound leg presses followed by squats. Can it actually make you shorter? Would gravity boots help or are they a scam? I don't think hanging on the pullup bar does any good since you are just stretching your lats.

Leg presses have nothing to do with compressing your spine since they provide a firm back support.

Squats *can* compress your spine if you do them heavy enough over a period of years. Your spine compresses with age anyway, so I wouldn't stress over squats, they should be the least of your worries.

You should probably be doing either Squats -or- Leg press if you are going that heavy, not both.

All you're doing is overtraining your quads because they get worked by both.




DIV

 

[CrazyK]

Even from 500 lbs. sitting on yor back? I always wonder if that can't make you permanently shorter after so many sessions.

No. Maybe if you put on enough weight to smash your growth plates while you're a teenager(around 1500 lbs.), but besides that, no.

 

[GoldenDelicious]

yah the spaces between your vertebrae are under more pressure throughout the day, and fluid is effectively squeezed out of them. fluid goes back in when you lie down for extended periods though

gravity boots will help, but you ahve to be like that for a while

in theory the more muscle you ahve on your skeleton in opposing pairs (ie front and back of a particular bone) the greater the tension on the bone, which in the case of a compressable structure like the spine would lead to more fluid being squashed out regardless of posture

i think that needsize just took the second measurement when he wasnt wearing high heels, qt

 

[wnt2bBeast]

Even from 500 lbs. sitting on yor back? I always wonder if that can't make you permanently shorter after so many sessions.

the bar shouldnt be resting on your neck..high bar squats can cause low back problems

 

[superqt4u2nv]

You already forgot? Shame on you.

slipped my mind I want to say 5'9... am I right?

 

[biteme]

the bar shouldnt be resting on your neck..high bar squats can cause low back problems

It doesn't. I rest it across my lower traps. I use to powerlift. Still it compresses your spine.

 

[anthrax]

Wrong posture (Cro-Magnon posture) will much more likely make you look shorter than squats

 

[biteme]

Leg presses have nothing to do with compressing your spine since they provide a firm back support.

Squats *can* compress your spine if you do them heavy enough over a period of years. Your spine compresses with age anyway, so I wouldn't stress over squats, they should be the least of your worries.

You should probably be doing either Squats -or- Leg press if you are going that heavy, not both.

All you're doing is overtraining your quads because they get worked by both.




DIV

Believe me, I don't overtrain. I only work each bodypart once a week. Squats work your hips and ass better than leg presses, so I like to incorporate them both into my workout.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

ok next question i dont think anyone asked...
how much have you shrunk? lol
from your avi it doesnt look like you started lifting yesterday seems you been at it awile

 

[biteme]

ok next question i dont think anyone asked...
how much have you shrunk? lol
from your avi it doesnt look like you started lifting yesterday seems you been at it awile

I think I've shrunk about 1/2 inch. Maybe I measured in the morning and then at night the next time. This is over a 20 yr. period though.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

I think I've shrunk about 1/2 inch. Maybe I measured in the morning and then at night the next time. This is over a 20 yr. period though.

im not an expert but i would assume its natural.. i think ive lost about an inch somewhere but i dont think its from squatting..

 

[anthrax]

I think I've shrunk about 1/2 inch. Maybe I measured in the morning and then at night the next time. This is over a 20 yr. period though.

1/2 inch in 20 years !?
You're just getting old my friend
Everybody experience that

Don't try to find a reason to avoid squatting

 

[CrazyK]

I think I've shrunk about 1/2 inch. Maybe I measured in the morning and then at night the next time. This is over a 20 yr. period though.

That can happen with age though. My grandpa was 6'6'' in his twenties, but measured in at 6'2'' when he died in his late 90's.

 

[AAP]

this may explain why so many pro bbers are short guys.

 

[biteme]

That can happen with age though. My grandpa was 6'6'' in his twenties, but measured in at 6'2'' when he died in his late 90's.

Damn, 4 inches? My short friend is not gonna be happy to hear this. 4'10" is considered midget height. He'll be just over the limit. He already has a terrible complex. He bought the "Grow taller" shit off the internet. LOL
Those scumbags out to be hung though.

 

[superqt4u2nv]

i think that needsize just took the second measurement when he wasnt wearing high heels, qt

When I meet him I wasn't waering heals I am almost 5'7 and he was just a bit taller then me a little over an inch I guess. I believe when he was younger he was 5'9 which would mean he did shrink a bit. Explain that smarty pants.

 

[CrazyK]

Damn, 4 inches? My short friend is not gonna be happy to hear this. 4'10" is considered midget height. He'll be just over the limit. He already has a terrible complex. He bought the "Grow taller" shit off the internet. LOL
Those scumbags out to be hung though.

Yeah, 4 inches, part of that was a little hunch in his back he got with old age though.

lol@ your friend, it must suck ass to be that short. I'm 6'3'', and would be feel sick if I was anything less then 6 foot.

 

[DIVISION]

yah the spaces between your vertebrae are under more pressure throughout the day, and fluid is effectively squeezed out of them. fluid goes back in when you lie down for extended periods though

gravity boots will help, but you ahve to be like that for a while

in theory the more muscle you ahve on your skeleton in opposing pairs (ie front and back of a particular bone) the greater the tension on the bone, which in the case of a compressable structure like the spine would lead to more fluid being squashed out regardless of posture

GDNuggaro basically broke it down like a veteran.

The fluid in the vertebrae does tend to dissipate as the day wears on, just from normal activity and walking, mainly via gravity.

As BabyAppleNug stated, the fluid will gradually refill when you sleep so it's no big worry.




DIV

 

[GoldenDelicious]

When I meet him I wasn't waering heals I am almost 5'7 and he was just a bit taller then me a little over an inch I guess. I believe when he was younger he was 5'9 which would mean he did shrink a bit. Explain that smarty pants.

easy. you were all ga-ga over his bum and your perception is skewed

 

[superqt4u2nv]

easy. you were all ga-ga over his bum and your perception is skewed

LOL perhaps

 

[GoldenDelicious]

LOL perhaps

lol 'perhaps' my ass i bet you were like the hunchback of notre dam eyeing out needsizes package

 

[Gambino]

my powerlifting coach (who also owns a gym) has told me that the leg press machine is responsible for a lot of injuries each year. for his gym insurance, he is sent a yearly report on inury, leg press machine is high on the list. in other words, that shit is bad for, stick to barbell exercises and proper squat form

 

[DIVISION]

Believe me, I don't overtrain. I only work each bodypart once a week. Squats work your hips and ass better than leg presses, so I like to incorporate them both into my workout.

Problem is that you get too much quad stimulation from doing both squats and leg presses in the same workout. If you are going in excess of 1,000lbs, you should alternate between the two week by week. You've been lifting for 20 years, bro......your body is taking one helluva pounding.

I don't do squats that much.....mostly leg presses.....



DIV

 

[GoldenDelicious]

my powerlifting coach (who also owns a gym) has told me that the leg press machine is responsible for a lot of injuries each year. for his gym insurance, he is sent a yearly report on inury, leg press machine is high on the list. in other words, that shit is bad for, stick to barbell exercises and proper squat form

gambino, what do they do to injurre themselves?

i have heard reports of a lot of people hurting their lower backs by allowing their ass to come off the pad, but apart from taht, i dont really see what theyre doing unless theyre monkeys

im ultra paranoid about a back injury, that would totally suck. when i use the leg press (up to 1000 pounds, i can only get 4 reps out these days though and i almost popped a blood vessel doing that, too! ) i keep my forearms on my upper thighs - it helps keep my ass against the pad and makes the whole move feel more stable...

 

[Gambino]

gambino, what do they do to injurre themselves?

i have heard reports of a lot of people hurting their lower backs by allowing their ass to come off the pad, but apart from taht, i dont really see what theyre doing unless theyre monkeys

knee and back injury, not sure of exact causes. my coach is a old timer and is very opposed to any machine usage, says machines are for rehab only

 

[GoldenDelicious]

knee and back injury, not sure of exact causes. my coach is a old timer and is very opposed to any machine usage, says machines are for rehab only

knees, ok i can see that, back, i can see that too. the guys doing calf stuff in the leg press with huge weights scare me, i visualise their leg folding backwards

anyway i have to disagree with your coach, my leg development has shot up since abandoning free squats (i started absolutely crapping myself when i got up to 4 plates a side, thats just danger territory imo) so i switched

anyone with any experiences plz post

thanks hater3, i appreciate taht

 

[biteme]

knee and back injury, not sure of exact causes. my coach is a old timer and is very opposed to any machine usage, says machines are for rehab only

Your coach is full of shit. Opinions are like assholes. Everyone's got one.

 

[Gambino]

Your coach is full of shit. Opinions are like assholes. Everyone's got one.

coach is 64 and would smoke you in any lift

has decades of o-lifting experience/coaching, plus has owned gyms for decades.

needless to say, he knows a bit more than you.

 

[RADAR]

The bro's are right, they also say the adverage male looses 1 inch in height by the time he reaches 55, hell if i'm gonna lose some i might as well pack it good with 600 lbs worth of plates on the bar.



RADAR

 

[biteme]

coach is 64 and would smoke you in any lift

has decades of o-lifting experience, plus has owned gyms for decades.

needless to say, he knows a bit more than you.

He's either a super heavyweight fat ass or one real strong son of a bitch then. He can bench over 425 at 64? How much does he weigh? He can leg press over 1000 easily for reps? Can he deadlift over 600? Again, how much does he weigh? He may know more than me, possibly, but that doesn't make him right about the machine comment. I have had my worst injuriies lifting free weights and not from improper form. The bench press is horrible for you, my opinion and I have an asshole too. And BTW, I'm still waitin' for that job in the mafia.

 

[Gambino]

He's either a super heavyweight fat ass or one real strong son of a bitch then. He can bench over 425 at 64? How much does he weigh? He can leg press over 1000 easily for reps? Can he deadlift over 600? Again, how much does he weigh? He may know more than me, possibly, but that doesn't make him right about the machine comment. I have had my worst injuriies lifting free weights and not from improper form. The bench press is horrible for you, my opinion and I have an asshole too.

i've personally never seen his 1rm for the bp, but he close-grips 405 all day with no spotter at a trim 225ish.

he can c&p 315, impressive as hell.

never seen him pull.

sq's in the 600's

i'll google him and see if I can find a pic of dude

 

[biteme]

i've personally never seen his 1rm for the bp, but he close-grips 405 all day with no spotter at a trim 225ish.

he can c&p 315, impressive as hell.

never seen him pull.

sq's in the 600's

i'll google him and see if I can find a pic of dude

Kudos to him. I hope I'm still as strong at the age. Time to go to bed, or I'm gonna get old.

 

[DIVISION]

my leg development has shot up since abandoning free squats (i started absolutely crapping myself when i got up to 4 plates a side, thats just danger territory imo) so i switched

anyone with any experiences plz post

thanks hater3, i appreciate taht

I agree with you 100%, GDAppleNigga......

Squats were hard on my body and didn't really allow me the quad isolation I was looking for. Now that I mainly use the legpress, my leg strength is off the chain, holmes. My working weight for legpress ranges in the 800-1,000lbs range and I focus on slow negatives so as to avoid any type of bounce action, that's how all the injuries occur on legpresses. I concentrate on making the lift a contraction, a fast steady positive, followed by a slow even negative. Never had any knees, hip or back injuries.



DIV

 

[Gambino]

I agree with you 100%, GDAppleNigga......
Now that I mainly use the legpress, my leg strength is off the chain, holmes.

you mean your leg press strength is off the chain.

 

[Ulcasterdropout]

those squats can't hurt me, I'm like a tank, biatch!

 

[samoth]

you mean your leg press strength is off the chain.

Bwahahahahaha!!!!

I aways love ripping on the bodybuilders. Too bad they always end up ganging up on us. All in good fun.

 

[DIVISION]

you mean your leg press strength is off the chain.

Off the hinges!!!!!!!

nugga.....





DIV

 

[RADAR]

Squats are for men--------screw leg presses!



RADAR

 

[DIVISION]

Squats are for men--------screw leg presses!

I balanced it out, and the negatives outweight the positives when it comes to squats when compared to legpresses.

Remember, I'm still doing cardio........my legs have only so much juice.

If I go all out on squats, my cardio suffers..........legpresses let me strike a balance while still going up in weight....1,000+ max etc...

I think that's a decent amount of weight, don't you, RADAR?



DIV

 

[anthrax]

I'm pretty much sure that I fucked my patellar tendon on the leg press while ass to the grass squats don't put so much stress on it

 

[Mandinka2]

Squats are for men--------screw leg presses!



RADAR

Tru...leg presses do not even compare to squats for overall CNS stresses. Remember what you are trying to do - force ALL of the muscles to grow. There are no substitutes and no excuses for not doing full squats - I suffer badly from disc compression myself but my spine feels BETTER after I have done squats with good form.

 

[DIVISION]

Tru...leg presses do not even compare to squats for overall CNS stresses. Remember what you are trying to do - force ALL of the muscles to grow. There are no substitutes and no excuses for not doing full squats - I suffer badly from disc compression myself but my spine feels BETTER after I have done squats with good form.

I do low sets, low reps and heavy weight.........so I'm not too worried about CNS stimulation.

I go all out on every set.....squats every week don't help me, they hinder me.






DIV

 

[anthrax]

I go all out on every set.....squats every week don't help me, they hinder me.
DIV

How come ?

 

[DIVISION]

How come ?

Wear and tear on my knees, back......

Squats take away from my DL's and legpress.



DIV

 

[anthrax]

Wear and tear on my knees, back......

Squats take away from my DL's and legpress.

DIV

I can understand that leg press puts less stress on the lower back but on the knees ????

 

[DIVISION]

I can understand that leg press puts less stress on the lower back but on the knees ????

Squats are tough on the knees, bro.

Esp because I go heavy, heavy.........

Wear and tear.........my body takes a real pounding.



DIV

 

[Gambino]

Squats are tough on the knees, bro.

Esp because I go heavy, heavy.........

Wear and tear.........my body takes a real pounding.



DIV

div, check this out.
squats are not bad for your knees

link

 

[anthrax]

div, check this out.
squats are not bad for your knees
link

Agree and great link

BTW, Gambino, what do you advise for rehab after patellar tendinitis (I'm already doing ART) ?

 

[superqt4u2nv]

Squats are for men--------screw leg presses!



RADAR

and Women

 

[superqt4u2nv]

Agree and great link

BTW, Gambino, what do you advise for rehab after patellar tendinitis (I'm already doing ART) ?

Is your ART guy good? My training partner needs a good one he went to one guy that was a real ass and is so turned off ART now. I know people that swear by ART and I think he should try another guy.

 

[c-sharp minor]

Hurt my back doing squats months ago. I developed a bad case of sciatica due to a herniated disc.

It hurts like a BITCH sometimes. I can barely sit down these days. I'm afraid I may have to go under the knife. Trying to avoid it at all costs, but I'm still squatting...hehe.

 

[rsnoble-im-back]

I always wished I could do hvy squats as my bench was really good and sure it wouldve been better. Too many back problems. Best advice for your back on leg presses that I know of is to not let your back arch off the mat on the downstroke.

 

[biteme]

I'm pretty much sure that I fucked my patellar tendon on the leg press while ass to the grass squats don't put so much stress on it

If you put your feet high on the press so that your knees don't travel out over your feet, you shouldn't have the problem. Unless you just have weak knees. Squats hurt my knees far worse.

 

[biteme]

I've recently added 1/2" to my thighs by doing heavy leg presses. Squats weren't doing much for me except maintaining size and killing my knees and groin. Squats may be best for some, but not for me.

 

[anthrax]

I've recently added 1/2" to my thighs by doing heavy leg presses. Squats weren't doing much for me except maintaining size and killing my knees and groin. Squats may be best for some, but not for me.

What about the "squat = best GH releaser exercise" ?

Myth or reality ?

 

[biteme]

What about the "squat = best GH releaser exercise" ?

Myth or reality ?

I guess it's a myth. At least for me. One reason my legs may not have been growing while doing squats, is that I couldn't go real heavy. BTW, there's lots of bullshit floating around out there. They have to sell magazines.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

I guess it's a myth. At least for me. One reason my legs may not have been growing while doing squats, is that I couldn't go real heavy. BTW, there's lots of bullshit floating around out there. They have to sell magazines.

if you squatted the same weight week in and week out (for whatever reason injury etc) of course your legs wont grow..if your adding weight to leg presses every few weeks your legs will grow...it has nothing to do with the exercise..

if you are able to add weight to your squat you would get better growth but like you said they were tearing your knees up and the leg press doesnt affect you that way..

 

[Ulcasterdropout]

Legs presses, fuck with my knees waaay more then squats.

 

[biteme]

Legs presses, fuck with my knees waaay more then squats.

Do you do them with your feet low on the pad? I see people doing this all the time. Just asking for a knee replacement. The knees should never travel out over your toes. I break at the hips first, keep tight, and pause at the bottom, then explode the weight up. Keeping under control the whole time.

 

[Ulcasterdropout]

Do you do them with your feet low on the pad? I see people doing this all the time. Just asking for a knee replacement. The knees should never travel out over your toes. I break at the hips first, keep tight, and pause at the bottom, then explode the weight up. Keeping under control the whole time.

I change feet placement