Can I do leg presses in place of squats?

[DerickVonD]

I was thinking of just doing deadlifts and leg extensions at home and once I get a gym membership doing leg presses and deadlifts instead of squats. I've been having knee pain lately. My friend told me I'm doing too much in my workout and leg presses are better for you knees. I do squats, front squats and deadlifts in the same day.

[itzgambino]

leg presses do not take the place of leg presses if you want the leg development that squats provide. I myself shied away from squats after minor knee surgery just as an excuse so I wouldnt have to do squats. My legs never grew the same until I started squatting again. If your having knee pain I would say goto the doctor and get it checked out to be careful. If that is all fine then just make sure your form is good when your doing squats.

[lennoxchi]

you know what? I'm not that old, but some exercises just do not work for me. every time i do squats i get back pain. front squats i can do. I've had people watch my form for me, to make sure i was correct in doing them and everything. now there is a squat machine called a "super squat" i think its made by precor, i can do that thing till I'm puking and I'm fine. point is, if theres an exercise that puts undue stress or injury on your body, don't do it.......and yes leg presses are a good alternative to squats.

[DerickVonD]

I was going to do leg extensions also. Also I read squats and deadlifts work the same muscles, is that true?

[itzgambino]

depends on the type of deadlift you do, I believe a stiff-leg deadlift hits your calves more, other than that I forget which type of deadlift hits each part of the leg more.

[TravisG]

leg press put most all of the development on the quads. or the front of the legs. squats work all major parts of the legs. from the quads, hammy, glutes. all but calves. you can skip squats but you will lack glute and hammy development. if you put in leg curls and lunges along with leg press than you would be onto something but you can get that all in one with squats. they suck but if you dont have to shy away from them because of injury than dont skip. just do em.

[DerickVonD]

depends on the type of deadlift you do, I believe a stiff-leg deadlift hits your calves more, other than that I forget which type of deadlift hits each part of the leg more.

I mean just the regular deadlifts.

[DerickVonD]

leg press put most all of the development on the quads. or the front of the legs. squats work all major parts of the legs. from the quads, hammy, glutes. all but calves. you can skip squats but you will lack glute and hammy development. if you put in leg curls and lunges along with leg press than you would be onto something but you can get that all in one with squats. they suck but if you dont have to shy away from them because of injury than dont skip. just do em.

What about doing deads leg extensions leg presses and hamstring curls? Also doesn't deadlifts work your glutes pretty well?

[TravisG]

dead lifts are mainly both lower back/hamstrings. but yes some glute gets in there. the above stated is fine but id still add in lunges for glute development. leg press, lunges, ham curl.

[DerickVonD]

dead lifts are mainly both lower back/hamstrings. but yes some glute gets in there. the above stated is fine but id still add in lunges for glute development. leg press, lunges, ham curl.

I hate lunges. last time I tried them with just 30lbs with the barbell I fell down.

[nemo]

I think it all depends on what the overall goal is. Squats work out considerably more muscle groups and also help develop coordination. Leg press isolates the legs and removes all extraneous factors such as balance and allows one to push the leg muscles much harder than you ever could in a squat.

[pmiller383]

What type of shoes do you wear?
Have you ever considered box squats?
Do you do TKE's?
Do you have any pre-exsisting conditions with your knees?
How is the range of motion in your ankles?
When you squat do you bend at your knees first or at your hips?

Leg presses are not going to give you the same development as squats, but if your not a competitive athlete they are a viable option for leg work. Like others have said just make sure to include direct hamstring and glute work. Also if your knees are bothering I don't know how you can stand doing leg extensions as they put a lot of strain on the ligaments around your knees.

[DerickVonD]

What type of shoes do you wear?
Have you ever considered box squats?
Do you do TKE's?
Do you have any pre-exsisting conditions with your knees?
How is the range of motion in your ankles?
When you squat do you bend at your knees first or at your hips?

Leg presses are not going to give you the same development as squats, but if your not a competitive athlete they are a viable option for leg work. Like others have said just make sure to include direct hamstring and glute work. Also if your knees are bothering I don't know how you can stand doing leg extensions as they put a lot of strain on the ligaments around your knees.

I bend at the hips. After reading these posts I might still do squats, but just cut out front squats or do front squats but cutout squats. My knees have been hurting recently, but I don't know why. I don't wear any shoes while squatting since I workout at home.

[jasonschaffin]

Nobody noticed he is doing Squats/Front Squats/Deadlifts all on the same day? Not sure how much weight your pushing or what percent of your max you're using but working all 3 of those intensely would put me out of commission for about 2 weeks. Seperate them in your workouts would be my recommendation. And work box squats as I find I sit back better with them lessening the knee stress and working my posterior chain more.

[pmiller383]

Video tape yourself squatting as you normally would one of these days and we can see if you have any issues that may be attributing to your knee pain.

[DerickVonD]

Nobody noticed he is doing Squats/Front Squats/Deadlifts all on the same day? Not sure how much weight your pushing or what percent of your max you're using but working all 3 of those intensely would put me out of commission for about 2 weeks. Seperate them in your workouts would be my recommendation. And work box squats as I find I sit back better with them lessening the knee stress and working my posterior chain more.

Well maybe you guys can help me setup a workout plan.
Here is what I was doing. The date below the exercise is when I switch. Normally if I can't do one set of 10 when I switch I go back and do the same weight another week.

Curls
20
July 20

wrist Curls
10
July 20

forearm wrist Curls
10
July 20


Hammer Curls
15
July 20

Flys
20
July 27

deadlift
110
July 27

Military press
100
july 20

barbell row
80
july 20

squat
170
July 20

benchpress
140
july 20

Front Squat
140
August 4

I was doing all these in the same day. Here is the routine I was thinking of changing to.

Arms and Chest: Monday Wednesday Friday

wrist Curls
10
July 20

forearm wrist Curls
10
July 20

Hammer Curls
15
July 20

Flys
20
July 27

Military press
100
August 5

barbell row
80
july 20

benchpress
140
july 20

Triceps Extensions
15
August 5

Legs: Tuesday Thursday Saturday


deadlift
110
July 28

Leg Extension
40
August 6

Hamstring Extension
30
August 6

squat
170
July 20

[roids1]

Any questions?

[jtp217]

Well maybe you guys can help me setup a workout plan.
Here is what I was doing. The date below the exercise is when I switch. Normally if I can't do one set of 10 when I switch I go back and do the same weight another week.

Curls
20
July 20

wrist Curls
10
July 20

forearm wrist Curls
10
July 20


Hammer Curls
15
July 20

Flys
20
July 27

deadlift
110
July 27

Military press
100
july 20

barbell row
80
july 20

squat
170
July 20

benchpress
140
july 20

Front Squat
140
August 4

I was doing all these in the same day. Here is the routine I was thinking of changing to.

Arms and Chest: Monday Wednesday Friday

wrist Curls
10
July 20

forearm wrist Curls
10
July 20

Hammer Curls
15
July 20

Flys
20
July 27

Military press
100
August 5

barbell row
80
july 20

benchpress
140
july 20

Triceps Extensions
15
August 5

Legs: Tuesday Thursday Saturday


deadlift
110
July 28

Leg Extension
40
August 6

Hamstring Extension
30
August 6

squat
170
July 20

One thing you have to be careful of if you are pushing to failure or close to it is that you are doing something every day puts stress on your lower back. MWF it's barbell rows, T/Th/S you are doing squats and deadlifts. If you aren't going to failure or aren't lifting pretty heavy you'd be fine. Either way though I'm not a fan of what you are doing or are wanting to switch to. That's only leaving you 1 day each week to rest and your are essentially doing the same workout every 2 days. Break it up and rotate it. I personally don't like lifting any more than 4 days each week. For a basic progressive routine look into a 5x5 or Jim Wendlers 5/3/1 program. They're both great programs that allow for some variation and rotation to prevent stalling while your progress.

[DerickVonD]

One thing you have to be careful of if you are pushing to failure or close to it is that you are doing something every day puts stress on your lower back. MWF it's barbell rows, T/Th/S you are doing squats and deadlifts. If you aren't going to failure or aren't lifting pretty heavy you'd be fine. Either way though I'm not a fan of what you are doing or are wanting to switch to. That's only leaving you 1 day each week to rest and your are essentially doing the same workout every 2 days. Break it up and rotate it. I personally don't like lifting any more than 4 days each week. For a basic progressive routine look into a 5x5 or Jim Wendlers 5/3/1 program. They're both great programs that allow for some variation and rotation to prevent stalling while your progress.

Well instead of doing barbell rows, what I heard I could do was lay on my stomach have my head stick out from the end of the bench and lift dumbbells up to work my upper back. How does that sound?

[keeper]

Being a lightweight female, I'm not sure if my input will matter, but I had a knee injury in 2007 that required physical therapy. Box squats were a part of my therapy protocol in the latter weeks. I like doing box squats holding a 35 lb plate.