Whereas we love the leg press exercise machine for a myriad of causes, the leg press has its personal professionals, cons, limitations, and dangers identical to every other train. Is the leg press good? Are you interested by the benefits and drawbacks of the leg press? Let’s have a look collectively to be able to make an knowledgeable determination to seek out out if that is the appropriate train for you.
What are the Professionals 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? Should you’re trying to goal sure muscle teams in your legs equivalent 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 means as a result of a squat engages extra muscle teams than simply the legs, such because the abs and hips, and offers a extra full-body train.
- You possibly can 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 possibly can 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 will be safer to execute than a squat. You can even simply and deliberately change which muscle teams that you simply want to goal by transferring the position of your ft on the foot platform of a leg press machine. So for those who’d wish to concentrate on 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 together with your exercise, and permits you to have extra management over your security relating to this train.
What are the Cons of the Leg Press?
Now that we’ve coated just a few of the principle explanation why we love utilizing a leg press machine, let’s analyze the explanation why typically it simply doesn’t make the lower. So, what are the downsides of utilizing a leg press?
- At the start, a leg press requires using a leg press machine whereas different workout routines equivalent to a squat can be utilized with simply your personal body weight ⸺ anyplace at any time. Which means that for those who’re on the lookout for a extra remoted leg train whereas on the go, you’ll should revert to one thing else for those who don’t have entry to the leg press machine.
- As a result of the leg press machine operates in the identical means regardless of if each legs are pushing equally or if only one is pushing, you possibly can overwork one leg greater than the opposite by chance.
- If there’s an excessive amount of weight on the leg press machine, you would possibly threat rounding out or hurting your again until you’re cautious.
- Equally, with a squat, there’s a risk that you could injure your knees as nicely in case you are making an attempt to press an excessive amount of weight or lock your knees once you straighten out your legs throughout this train.
- Though the leg press machine could be very user-friendly, there’s nonetheless a threat of consumer error. This might doubtlessly appear like incorrectly inserting the seat or the position of your ft, and even one thing extra critical like setting the burden to one thing past what you possibly can deal with and inflicting harm. See our weblog right here about the way to leg press correctly.
Is the Leg Press Proper for Me?
At Complete Holistic, we delight ourselves on placing you in management over your personal health. You might be answerable for 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 succeed in out to a employees member at any of our areas. We’re at all times glad 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. Should you’re on the lookout for a extra full-body train that also emphasizes the leg muscle teams, a unbelievable various to the leg press is the squat. However for those who’re wanting an train that’s pleasant for all ranges of gym-goers and the place you will be in management, then the leg press is a good choice for you.