Whereas we love the leg press exercise machine for a myriad of causes, the leg press has its personal execs, cons, limitations, and dangers similar to every other train. Is the leg press good? Are you interested by the benefits and downsides of the leg press? Let’s have a look collectively to be able to make an knowledgeable choice to search out out if that is the best train for you.
What are the Execs of the Leg Press?
- Is the leg press a compound train? Whereas the leg press is much like a squat, it’s truly an remoted train as a substitute of a compound train. So what does the leg press work? For those who’re trying to goal sure muscle teams in your legs comparable to your quads, glutes, hamstrings, hips, and calves that the leg press is ideal for you. Leg press workout routines are completely different from a squat on this approach as a result of a squat engages extra muscle teams than simply the legs, such because the abs and hips, and gives a extra full-body train.
- You may work out your quads much more with a leg press than with a squat resulting from much less vary in movement (and fewer engagement of the glutes and hamstrings) than you’ll be able to obtain with a squat alone.
- As a result of your again is supported and there are hand rests, a leg press tends to be extra constant and could be safer to execute than a squat. You may as well simply and deliberately change which muscle teams that you just wish to goal by shifting the location of your ft on the foot platform of a leg press machine. So if you happen to’d wish to deal with constructing muscle in a selected space, you might have extra management when utilizing a leg press machine than simply doing a squat.
- Talking of management, as a result of there’s a lot assist with a machine train you don’t want a spotter such as you would for a squat! This implies that you could have extra unbiased freedom along with your exercise, and lets you have extra management over your security in the case of this train.
What are the Cons of the Leg Press?
Now that we’ve coated a couple of of the principle explanation why we love utilizing a leg press machine, let’s analyze the explanation why generally it simply doesn’t make the lower. So, what are the downsides of utilizing a leg press?
- Before everything, a leg press requires using a leg press machine whereas different workout routines comparable to a squat can be utilized with simply your individual body weight ⸺ wherever at any time. Because of this if you happen to’re searching for a extra remoted leg train whereas on the go, you’ll need to revert to one thing else if you happen to don’t have entry to the leg press machine.
- As a result of the leg press machine operates in the identical approach regardless of if each legs are pushing equally or if only one is pushing, you’ll be able to overwork one leg greater than the opposite accidentally.
- If there may be an excessive amount of weight on the leg press machine, you would possibly danger rounding out or hurting your again except you might be cautious.
- Equally, with a squat, there’s a chance that you could injure your knees as effectively if you’re trying to press an excessive amount of weight or lock your knees if you straighten out your legs throughout this train.
- Though the leg press machine may be very user-friendly, there may be nonetheless a danger of person error. This might doubtlessly appear to be incorrectly inserting the seat or the location of your ft, and even one thing extra severe like setting the burden to one thing past what you’ll be able to deal with and inflicting damage. See our weblog right here about leg press correctly.
Is the Leg Press Proper for Me?
At StrongBodyHub, we satisfaction ourselves on placing you in management over your individual health. You might be in command of no matter actions and workout routines really feel best for you and your distinctive physique, so watch out in listening to what feels good and what doesn’t. And if you end up needing help or you might have additional questions on any of our train machines, we encourage you to achieve out to a employees member at any of our areas. We’re all the time joyful to assist!
There are such a lot of methods that you could train your physique, particularly your legs! A leg press is only one of some ways that you could construct muscle in your legs. For those who’re searching for a extra full-body train that also emphasizes the leg muscle teams, a incredible different to the leg press is the squat. However if you happen to’re wanting an train that’s pleasant for all ranges of gym-goers and the place you could be in management, then the leg press is a superb possibility for you.