Been trying them for a few weeks while injured, but looking at them mechanically, they are nothing like the running action... Are they good for running despite the total lack of specificity (unless you heel-strike monstrously!).
Been trying them for a few weeks while injured, but looking at them mechanically, they are nothing like the running action... Are they good for running despite the total lack of specificity (unless you heel-strike monstrously!).
is this muscle group used in the same way as it is in running
Not a big fan of leg extensions. They are rather hard on the knee. Much better off restricting your leg exercises to deadlifts and squats.
get in the squat rack
squat deep and heavy, low reps with good form
profit
leg extensions are for girly men not concerned with strength or speed
what is a deadlift?
"king" wrote:
what is a deadlift?
Go to YouTube, where they have many videos on deadlift technique (in fact, you can enter "deadlift technique" or "deadlift instruction" as your search term).
Look at *multiple* videos, and check the comments thereto, to get a better sense of how to perform the action. (The Comments section can be a positive: if you see many posts applauding the technique/instruction in the video, you can give it greater credence; if you see a ton of disparaging posts, be wary of the info in the video.)
Though I personally agree with the advice to lift heavy, to use a limited number of repetitions per set (2-5, say) when deadlifting, and to stay at a modest number of sets, that advice applies *after* you have mastered DL technique. I seriously advise beginners to start with a very light weight, maybe even a bare bar, until their technique is sound.
Further, once you work up to a heavy weight in the DL, it can be useful to start a DL session with one or even two warmup sets, of perhaps 5-10 reps, at weights lower than your "work" weight will be.
thanks, watched a few, will give it a go tomorrow with really light weight like you said
One little wrinkle: though I said to start light, if you don't have *any* plates on the bar you might want to elevate it (lift it off boxes or whatever). You don't particularly want to be lifting the bar right off the floor--maybe elevated 8-10 inches or so.
And the ideal, of course, is to get somebody experienced to check your form in your initial sessions. This may not be the biggest guy in the gym (or it may)--but you want it to be someone who's done DL for a while, so possibly a power lifter rather than a bodybuilder (though a lot of the latter also do DL regularly).
leg extensions are generally BAD for you. They are an exercise designed by bodybuilders to get the lateral part of the quad bigger I was instructed in a rehab class not to allow young people to do them as the patella can shift to the lateral side. The muscle on the inside of the quad (vmo) is only activated during the last few degrees of extension. Every certified trainer and or high level coach will tell you to do closed kinetic chain exercises with the foot against an object. Do the exercises other posters suggested.
working alright for this guy:
Nutella1 wrote:
Not a big fan of leg extensions. They are rather hard on the knee. Much better off restricting your leg exercises to deadlifts and squats.
I've read several people on LRC say that leg extentions are hard on the knee, yet my p.t. strongly suggested using that machine when I had Runner's Knee for a few weeks. (I would use low weight or no weight and just hold it there for a few seconds. It actually helped me a lot.)
60 years old, running for 45 years, 3 knee surgeries, and leg extensions are the worst thing I ever did for my knees.