is leg press sameas the squat?

On Wed, 20 Feb 2008, kb wrote:

> i'm a beginner in weight workout, and does the leg press produce the
> same effect as the squat?

Both use the quads and glutes to make the force that lifts the weight. The
difference is in the way other muscles are used: because the leg press is
a machine, with no degrees of freedom other than the axis you're moving
in, you don't need to do much except push; the squat, because it's a free
weight movement, involves keeping the weight stable as well, and that
brings in your calf, hip and core muscles too.

I guess your calf muscles are involved in a leg press to some extent, but
not as much.

> it appears the leg press doesn't appear to be as strenuous on my back as
> the squat. i may be wrong though.

No, you're quite right.

tom

--
Once, at a fair on the Heath, [Geoffrey Fletcher] overheard a man saying
that Hampstead wasn't thrilling enough. Fletcher reached over in the
darkness and stuck an ice lolly down the back of his shirt.
 >> Stay informed about: is leg press sameas the squat? 

On Feb 20, 10:25 pm, kb <kilroyb....RemoveThis@usa.com> wrote:
> i'm a beginner in weight workout, and does the leg press produce the
> same effect as the squat? it appears the leg press doesn't appear to
> be
> as strenuous on my back as the squat. i may be wrong though.

You're right, actually. Though do take note that done incorrectly,
one could mess up the back doing leg presses, too.

Machines make life easier, however, so doing a certain weight with leg
presses would not mean that you could do that same weight (probably
not anywhere near it, actually) with free-weight barbell squats.
 >> Stay informed about: is leg press sameas the squat?