Leg Press vs. Squat

[Lift2Live]

This is a highly debateable subject I know, but I wanted to present to everyone this article from T-Nation by Charles Poliquin. The article is about reps and hypertrophy but down a little towards the end, he states this quoted text;

"When comparing squats against leg press, squats are far more effective in increasing leg strength and overall strength. However, there is some evidence to suggest that the leg press might result in more hypertrophy of the quadriceps. One study, at least, showed that for the same number of reps, the leg press resulted in a higher amount of Growth Hormone being produced than squats.

As possible evidence, the leg press is the exercise of choice when it comes to speed skating, and I have personally worked with speed skaters whose legs made Tom Platz’s look like Woody Allen’s."

I am very curious as to everyone's idea on his remarks since the Squat is considered the end all to leg exercises. Here is the link to the whole article---> http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do...ydra?id=620430

[MostMuscle]

I don't know about the GH release but I find that the leg press does indeed "isolate" the quads more than the squat. Reason for this is that the rest of the body is taken out of the movement (no back or shoulder contractions) and all the stress is placed on the lower body.

Different variations of the squat such as the front squat and barbell hack squat can also effectively limit the back from coming into play. Don't short change the back squat as is much more sport-specific and you can place more overall stress on the entire body using old fashion back squats.

[Lift2Live]

That's pretty fair I spose. I guess I'm just curious since bodybuilding is hypertrophy specific and a person would want the best exercises for said goals. If the leg press created a greater degree of growth (however big or small) a person would want to incorporate this fairly often? Just to make my own beliefs clear, I do consider squats the "daddy" of leg exercises but this article spawned interest.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lift2Live

As possible evidence, the leg press is the exercise of choice when it comes to speed skating, and I have personally worked with speed skaters whose legs made Tom Platz’s look like Woody Allen’s."

I don't think there is a bodybuilder (or speed skater for that matter) alive that could even compare to Tom Platz's leg size. His legs are still legendary!

I would say the leg press is a *good* exercise at best, but does not compare to the squat in any way. It's like saying Jay Cutler is a great bodybuilder, but you still can't put him (or anyone else for that matter) in the same category as Ronnie Coleman. Just my opinion tho!

[Lift2Live]

Originally Posted by Todd

I don't think there is a bodybuilder (or speed skater for that matter) alive that could even compare to Tom Platz's leg size. His legs are still legendary!

That was the exact comment that made me wonder. I would think it hard to make Platz's legs look like Woody Allen's, or any other stick figure. His legs are just plain freaky! I am just wondering if it's yet another one of those articles that a "specialist" or "pro" writes to give the average joe something to think about while sipping coffee? I am curious as to how often one would want to incorporate the leg press then? Once in a while for a change only?

[Klinger]

Best place for it, IMO, is as a finisher exercise, after squats and SLDLs/good mornings. I like the burn the press gives me at higher reps.

[Todd]

I don't think it's a complete waste to do leg press, at least once in a while, but I would never put it in your routine instead of squats, or not include squats along with leg presses, unless you are injured and can't do squats, etc.. Squats are just way to effective and should not be subsituted for anything...just my opinion tho.

[Firehawk]

Originally Posted by Todd

I don't think there is a bodybuilder (or speed skater for that matter) alive that could even compare to Tom Platz's leg size. His legs are still legendary!

I would say the leg press is a *good* exercise at best, but does not compare to the squat in any way. It's like saying Jay Cutler is a great bodybuilder, but you still can't put him (or anyone else for that matter) in the same category as Ronnie Coleman. Just my opinion tho!

I'd have to echo Todd here.

Let's not forget, they fail to mention what stance and how they are doing the squat. To just say 'SQUAT' is too broad.

You want to target your quads more? Go closer than shoulder width with your feet. You wanna target your posterior core more, go wider...

Sounds like an article written by someone who don't like to squat lol.

[midgetcop]

Originally Posted by Firehawk

Sounds like an article written by someone who don't like to squat lol.

He don't know squat!

[Lift2Live]

Well, I guess I'd need to see some sort of medical study to prove his statements on the hypertrophy issue if I was to really prefer one over the other. I've been varying my stance/foot placement alot lately. My legs used to grow fairly well but my hamstrings are lagging. My qudas are decent but still not proportionately as big as say my shoulders, chest etc,. Next winter I'm really going to focus and stay strict with the squats and get to doing lunges or something for me hammies.

[Chain]

Back when I used to accumulate literature on exercise like crazy I acquired quit a bit of Poliquin's material. I think some of Poliquin's stuff is great but some of it is garbage. Kinda like his theory that aerobic work makes someone fat. Some of his stuff just doesn't jibe with basic exercise physiology. And some of his statements are flat out ridiculous. I've seen the Olympic speed skaters he's trained and, though they have impressive quad development, they do not even compare to Tom Platz. Sometimes Poliquin cares more about promotion through exaggeration rather than accuracy and credibility.

One thing I really don't care for is that Poliquin is notorious for not siting his sources so you don't know what study he's talking about. Who were the participants? Were they novice lifters? The squat requires more skill than the leg press so if they were novice lifters that could influence the study results. Was the same protocol followed for each exercise? How was the load for the squat estimated vs. the load for the leg press? Etc, etc.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the leg press as a primary leg exercise. I think it has it's place but mainly as a complimentary exercise like Todd and Klinger mentioned. I can understand that they might lead to greater hypertrophy in the quads though because on the squat the lower back often gives out before the quadriceps do, as Dave Tate says. I'm kinda surprised he says the leg press is the exercise of choice for skaters because he has mentioned in other articles that his #1 exercise for skaters is the step-up.

[Firehawk]

Originally Posted by Lift2Live

Well, I guess I'd need to see some sort of medical study to prove his statements on the hypertrophy issue if I was to really prefer one over the other. I've been varying my stance/foot placement alot lately. My legs used to grow fairly well but my hamstrings are lagging. My qudas are decent but still not proportionately as big as say my shoulders, chest etc,. Next winter I'm really going to focus and stay strict with the squats and get to doing lunges or something for me hammies.

Glute/Ham raises homie. Whip them hams up in no time.

[Burks]

When working my legs I love the leg press. Sometimes squats bother my back too much to do them (bad back not form). I can feeling my glutes working a lot harder on leg press but on squats I feel my whole leg working.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Lift2Live]

That's what I say.

I will see if I can make something to do those glute/ham raises next leg day. If I can't find anything to suffice, I will probably do walking db lunges till I puke, or something to that effect. lol The gym is in the beginning stages of getting a power station that you can deadlift/sldl on, but that's a few months out sadly.

[Chain]

Originally Posted by Lift2Live

That's what I say.

I will see if I can make something to do those glute/ham raises next leg day. If I can't find anything to suffice, I will probably do walking db lunges till I puke, or something to that effect. lol The gym is in the beginning stages of getting a power station that you can deadlift/sldl on, but that's a few months out sadly.

How about harrup curls? Those are great for the hamstrings.