Article: Squats Vs Leg Press
- Thread starter The Press
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braskibra
Active member
Although this goes almost without saying, its almost irrelevant. Most bodybuilders aren't performing 1 leg exercise per session hence rendering these results not quite useless but not as useful as the results would suggest. It is more relevant to an athlete whom may only be performing one leg exercise.
Looseunitwa
New member
It's simple really.
The squat is a much harder exercise and therefore requires more hormonal responses from your body.
I am sure with all the main lift exercises, squats, chins, bench press, dead lifts - you will have greater hormonal responses than other general exercises.
The squat is a much harder exercise and therefore requires more hormonal responses from your body.
I am sure with all the main lift exercises, squats, chins, bench press, dead lifts - you will have greater hormonal responses than other general exercises.
compudog
Well-known member
The problem with leg press is that it starts with the hips around 90 degrees, which limits the ROM. Check out the pic, the guy squatting has his calves touching his hamstrings, whereas the guy doing leg press is nowhere close to that, despite his knees being higher up his chest. I actually think the leg press is a lot harder on the lower back than squats, for that reason. I also have a suspicion that, taking the angle of the sled into account, a lifter can move more weight on the squat than the leg press, not entirely sure though as I haven't done the math to figure it out exactly.
turff49
Well-known member
The one thing that you are not taking into consideration is the compression factor with the weight on the shoulders. All that weight is being driven down through the vertebrae and disc. With the leg press this isn't an issue. Biggest issue with leg press is proper form and not rolling your hips/lower back when bringing the legs in.
compudog
Well-known member
Not true at all. I do a full squat with 300 lb, and a box squat with 400+. Now, there is no way my spine by itself could take that kind of weight, a spine by itself if kind of floppy, load up 300 lb on it and it will just fold in half. The weight is being supported by the muscles of the "thoracic spine", or upper back, the core, and so on. The bones of the spine don't really support any weight at all unless there's some kind of mishap, in which case **** goes south in a big hurry.
wiseman
Member
You're spot on!
compudog
Well-known member
Again, I doubt that. People get herniated disks for various reasons, mostly from doing stuff improperly. If it were a matter of weight everyone squatting 1000 lb would be crippled, but they're not, in fact they're the strongest humans on the planet. You need to think about that for a minute, 1000 lb is supported the same way 300 lb is, by the muscles. I couldn't do it, because my muscles aren't strong enough to support that kind of weight, has nothing to do with the bones.
compudog
Well-known member
I'm 47 bro, I bench 300 lb regularly. It's only risky if you do it half assed or try to lift beyond your ability.
turff49
Well-known member
If you don't think the weight has any effect on your spine then more power to you. I know it does. I feel the compression on my disc after doing squats. That's why I stop at 300. I understand your thought process but thinking the spine isn't in danger is really kind of stupid.
You said"doing too much weight". Well you want no how much is too much unless you keep increasing the weight.
You said"doing too much weight". Well you want no how much is too much unless you keep increasing the weight.
compudog
Well-known member
Bar speed bro. You gauge how heavy a weight is by how fast the bar moves when you lift it. When it slows down significantly you're at the limit. Best way is to follow a proven program like 5/3/1. You calculate your 1RM from your 4 RM and go from there. My advice: never attempt a "real" 1 RM, the risk for injury is high, esp. for squats & deads. Personally I try to never lift a weight I can't get for at least 2 reps. If I only get 1, it's too heavy. Most importantly, never, never, never fail at a really heavy lift, you're almost guaranteed to earn yourself some ouch time, IMO. Finally, don't take my word for anything related to lifting, climbing, or fitness in general, I'm not an expert at anything except computer junk and shooting my mouth off.
squidwardsabz
New member
Definitely. Most bodybuilders do both of these exercises on leg day. BBers aren't just looking for hormone response (although that is very important), they need to hit all the angles.
HardCore1
Member
Its just like bangin out your chick! Most all men will dump faster doing it doggy, so that's why we hit all angles and go for the cumulative effect. I also do agree that your muscles do take the brunt of the weight during heavy postural movements. The spine is not to be neglected. I feel that most people who feel there disc compressing are using too much weight over there strength limit and are underdeveloped. Just my opinion. Great conversation so far gents!
turff49
Well-known member
I think you are right that in some cases people are under developed for some of the weights and that can lead to failure. In my case I had disc degenerative disease, had been in a car wreck years ago also. Didn't know until I had to have surgery that I had so much damage. They did tell me I accelerated the damage by lifting and lifting heavy. I think a lot of people have some damage and don't know it. I know a lot of lifters over the years that see a chiropractor to get an "alignment" on a regular basis. If you are doing this then obviously there is an underlying issue and the lifting is aggregating it. The average lifter doesn't know when they've gone to far until it's too late.
HardCore1
Member
alexoc949
Active member
just curious, what kind of risk to you get with barbell benching? seems like dumbbell bench would be more risk