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The Truth About the Leg Press and Why Squats Are Superior Exercise for Leg Strength

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chadvickwilliam
The Truth About the Leg Press and Why Squats Are Superior Exercise for Leg Strength

You don’t need to do squats if you have a leg press. It’s either one or the other. Some people believe leg press machines are the best when you’re looking for workout equipment that can train your leg muscles. Others think squats remain the best way to give those muscles a workout. If you can’t decide which side of the fence you’re on, here are a few things to keep in mind. 

What’s a Leg Press?  

A leg press is easier to exercise with. There’s less motor control needed, so you won’t have to worry about how you will position your body to ensure you don’t get hurt. Your movement is within a fixed range of motion determined by the machine. That’s ideal for beginners and those who want to focus on working out their legs without the distractions of worrying where their legs and feet should be. If you need a guide, a leg press machine can be a better choice for you. 

What About Squats?

Squats are much more complex as an exercise. If you’re a powerlifter, you know the importance of refining a movement pattern to get the most out of the exercise. When it comes to squats, you need to be in a stable position, and you’ll have to coordinate your legs with your arms. It may sound simple, but those who don’t like multitasking or aren’t skilled in sports and coordination will find this exercise challenging. 

Leg Press Benefits

If you’re thinking about buying a leg press, here are some of the benefits you can look forward to once you start working out with the machine: 

  • Isolates the legs. You position yourself onto a pad or seat when you use the machine. You use only your legs to drive the weight, so your upper body isn’t involved in the exercise in any way. That makes it easier to concentrate on the task and your fitness goals.
  • Doesn’t worsen your injuries. If you have a shoulder injury or have soreness in your shoulders, or your elbow hurts, no worries. You can still exercise with the leg press since it doesn’t affect your upper body. You won’t have to worry that exercising might aggravate your condition. 
  • You don’t need to balance. With a leg press, you won’t have to do squats. If you struggle with balance or have balance and core issues but still want to train your legs, the leg press makes that possible. It also eliminates the risk that you’ll be hurt, so you can exercise with confidence. 
  • Strengthens your squat. Once you’ve worked with the leg press for a considerable time, you’ll see your quads and other leg muscles improve. After a while, you can start doing squats to mix up your exercise routine. By working with a leg press first, you can strengthen your muscles to the point that you can now hold your position while doing squats. 
  • It works for beginners. A leg press is ideal for your needs if you’re a beginner. It provides you with more stability, especially around the core and spine, so those areas receive support and protection.


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