Leg Development Questions - Bodybuilding Discussion on Bodybuilding.net Training Forum

BigMal · 11-26-2006, 01:23 PM

I was reading around and couldn't find an exact answer. I'm curious as to whether squats (and variants (sp?)) and dead lifts were adquate for quad/hamstring development? I think that they could be, but if so, then why do other people do so much more, leg press, extensions, etc...

What do ya'll think?

verbatimreturned · 11-26-2006, 03:21 PM

Squats focus on all around leg development they include quads and hamstrings in the movement as well as many other muscles, deadlifts include the hamstrings as well and depending on the style that you perform them they include the hamstrings more. People do so much more leg press, extension and all of the other things because sometimes they are too lazy to do these compound movements or they just aren't aware of the benefits of them.

RabidRabbit · 11-26-2006, 03:48 PM

It's also amazing how many people believe that squats, cleans, deads, standing shoulder presses are bad for you. People seem to think these exercises will one day snap your spine like a twig or something. It is really weird.

slayer of souls · 11-26-2006, 04:00 PM

It just that these exercise are commonly executed improperly and with too much weight.

BigMal · 11-26-2006, 04:10 PM

sounds like a program with squats/deads is all that's needed for upper leg development.

Thanks

Kane · 11-26-2006, 06:37 PM

If you're squatting 3 times a week and doing deads once a week, that's more than enough leg work.

Eric3237 · 11-27-2006, 05:37 AM

There is no doubt that people get hurt by improperly executing these lifts. People need to educate themselves before getting into them. But imo you are probably more likely to develop chronic overuse injuries from a high volume isolationist routine. Also, many people come from this sort of isolation background and develop muscle imbalances. Then when they switch to the the compound movements and maybe use too much weight, they are prone to injury because of this.

Here is a for instance (I'll be the overhead press defender). How many people when they first start go crazy trying to develop their chest? They do beau coup bench, flyes, etc. so on, with many sets and reps and hardly touch their back and don't develop the scapular muscles and they have uneven shoulder development. Then they get wise one day and start doing overhead presses and boom, they get a rotator cuff injury. So, OHP's are bad! No, doing stupid ass shitty routines that try to focus on one muscle group without a balanced attack are bad.

BTW, deads involve quads as well so between the two it's pretty solid. BUT, as you advance there comes a time when you can't do just do squats and deads till you're blue in the face and have to round it out with other variations.

Ozzi · 12-10-2006, 11:50 PM

Squats and dead lifts are also so much more practical than leg extensions and curls. How often do you fo the leg extension movement in your everyday life compared to squatting?

Also I find cycling and pump classes are great for leg development.

11-26-2006, 01:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
BigMal Rank: Member Experience: 10+ Years Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 140 Country: Gender:	Leg Development Questions I was reading around and couldn't find an exact answer. I'm curious as to whether squats (and variants (sp?)) and dead lifts were adquate for quad/hamstring development? I think that they could be, but if so, then why do other people do so much more, leg press, extensions, etc... What do ya'll think?

11-26-2006, 04:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
slayer of souls Rank: Member Experience: 5-7 Years Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 411 Country: Gender:	It just that these exercise are commonly executed improperly and with too much weight.
	slayer of souls's Sig:"Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains " Rousseau http://miseryofreflection.imeem.com/

11-26-2006, 06:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kane Rank: Lightweight Experience: 3-5 Years Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,419 Country: Gender:	If you're squatting 3 times a week and doing deads once a week, that's more than enough leg work.
	Kane's Sig:Bench:275 [1x1] Deadlift:365 [1x3] A2G Squat:275 [1x3] "Shut up and squat!" "NO, this is my squat rack. Go get your own!"

11-27-2006, 05:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
Eric3237 Moderator Rank: Heavyweight Experience: 7-10 Years Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,462 Country: Gender:	There is no doubt that people get hurt by improperly executing these lifts. People need to educate themselves before getting into them. But imo you are probably more likely to develop chronic overuse injuries from a high volume isolationist routine. Also, many people come from this sort of isolation background and develop muscle imbalances. Then when they switch to the the compound movements and maybe use too much weight, they are prone to injury because of this. Here is a for instance (I'll be the overhead press defender). How many people when they first start go crazy trying to develop their chest? They do beau coup bench, flyes, etc. so on, with many sets and reps and hardly touch their back and don't develop the scapular muscles and they have uneven shoulder development. Then they get wise one day and start doing overhead presses and boom, they get a rotator cuff injury. So, OHP's are bad! No, doing stupid ass shitty routines that try to focus on one muscle group without a balanced attack are bad. BTW, deads involve quads as well so between the two it's pretty solid. BUT, as you advance there comes a time when you can't do just do squats and deads till you're blue in the face and have to round it out with other variations.
	Eric3237's Sig:Anybody can talk a lot. Smart people listen... -Son's first grade teacher

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11-26-2006, 03:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
verbatimreturned Rank: Lightweight Experience: 2-3 Years Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: new york Posts: 1,376 Country: Gender:	Squats focus on all around leg development they include quads and hamstrings in the movement as well as many other muscles, deadlifts include the hamstrings as well and depending on the style that you perform them they include the hamstrings more. People do so much more leg press, extension and all of the other things because sometimes they are too lazy to do these compound movements or they just aren't aware of the benefits of them.

11-26-2006, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
RabidRabbit Rank: Member Experience: > 1 Year Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 99 Country: Gender:	It's also amazing how many people believe that squats, cleans, deads, standing shoulder presses are bad for you. People seem to think these exercises will one day snap your spine like a twig or something. It is really weird.

11-26-2006, 04:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
BigMal Rank: Member Experience: 10+ Years Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 140 Country: Gender:	sounds like a program with squats/deads is all that's needed for upper leg development. Thanks

12-10-2006, 11:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ozzi Rank: New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 33 Country: Gender:	Squats and dead lifts are also so much more practical than leg extensions and curls. How often do you fo the leg extension movement in your everyday life compared to squatting? Also I find cycling and pump classes are great for leg development.

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