are squats or leg press necessary?

General Grievous said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

Then use good form and lighter weight. Maybe try a belt.

I also do these in addition to squats, which seem to be no strain on the
back:

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/GluteusMaximus/DBSingleLegSplitSquat.html

--
-Larry

"The troll hasn't been born who can troll us worse than we troll
ourselves." Hugh Beyer

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

You might try doing squats in a Smith machine .

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

You might try doing squats in a Smith machine .

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

You might try doing squats in a Smith machine .

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

You really need to find out what the back problems are from an orthopedic
surgeon (NOT A CHIROPRACTOR!!!!) Prior to making that evaluation. When you
find out what the issue is. Then get back with us. It very well could be an
issues as simple as weak abs.

WooferBearATL said:

You really need to find out what the back problems are from an orthopedic
surgeon (NOT A CHIROPRACTOR!!!!

This guys a [censored] idiot! If you want to get cut, go to a surgeon. If
you want to get better, you go to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are
recognized as an important part of any sports clinic, or sports team.
Listen to wooferbutt, and you'll end up crippled for life by a
surgeon.
TBR

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and
more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day
the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the
White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
"Anyone with degrees from Yale and Harvard is presumed to be intelligent,
but George W. Bush has managed to overcome that presumption."

WooferBearATL said:

You really need to find out what the back problems are from an orthopedic
surgeon (NOT A CHIROPRACTOR!!!!

This guys a [censored] idiot! If you want to get cut, go to a surgeon. If
you want to get better, you go to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are
recognized as an important part of any sports clinic, or sports team.
Listen to wooferbutt, and you'll end up crippled for life by a
surgeon.
TBR

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and
more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day
the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the
White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
"Anyone with degrees from Yale and Harvard is presumed to be intelligent,
but George W. Bush has managed to overcome that presumption."

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

Stress is what causes progress. Incorrect form is another matter.
Practice good form every rep and keep trying to make improvements in
form, stop well short of failure, use a weight that's heavy enough but
not too heavy, and squat if that's what you wish to do.

I learned to deadlift before I learned to squat and, while I can't claim
it's universally better to learn the lifts in this order, I'm happy I
did. I find squatting more complicated than deadlifting, and I'm glad I
went into squatting with strength in my back to start.

You can also acquire both strength and strength/endurance in your entire
posterior chain by working kettlebell swings and snatches for high
volume - two excellent and generally underrated exercises. I, too, have
a bad back (you can read my history on my web site and the links there)
and I don't let a day go by without kettlebell swings.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

"The Bill Rodgers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

WooferBearATL said:

You really need to find out what the back problems are from an orthopedic
surgeon (NOT A CHIROPRACTOR!!!!

This guys a [censored] idiot! If you want to get cut, go to a surgeon. If
you want to get better, you go to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are
recognized as an important part of any sports clinic, or sports team.
Listen to wooferbutt, and you'll end up crippled for life by a
surgeon.
TBR

when you are a hammer, you see everything as a nail

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

many issues.
1) what is your training goal?
2) in the past? are they still unresolved?
3) all exercises put unwanted stress if done with incorrect form and too
heavy of a weight.

work the lower body? to what level? you could do doorway squats, a$$ to
ankles and work the number up daily if you want general conditioning. Learn
what you can about 1 legged squats.
Honestly, my back was terrible UNTIL I included deadlifts in my routine.
felt better than squats at the top end. able to keep form better. If I
need to quit a rep, just drop the weight.

Jay said:

when you are a hammer, you see everything as a nail

Funny, that's the way I feel about chiropractors. "Back hurts? You
need a manipulation. Elbow hurts? Let's manipulate that back. Got
corns? You need your back manipulated."

Go see a chiropractor if you want temporary relief and your soft tissues
stretched so reinjury is more likely. They like that cycle, keeps the
customers coming back.

I'll stick to real doctors, thanks.

Neil

Jay said:

when you are a hammer, you see everything as a nail

Funny, that's the way I feel about chiropractors. "Back hurts? You
need a manipulation. Elbow hurts? Let's manipulate that back. Got
corns? You need your back manipulated."

Go see a chiropractor if you want temporary relief and your soft tissues
stretched so reinjury is more likely. They like that cycle, keeps the
customers coming back.

I'll stick to real doctors, thanks.

Neil

"Bob Garrison" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:08SdnZLO5uR3oKzeRVn-
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

You might try doing squats in a Smith machine .

Which will reduce stress on his back how, precisely?

Hugh

--
Exercise is a dirty word. Whenever I hear it, I wash my mouth out with
chocolate. ("Ladi"😉

Jay said:

when you are a hammer, you see everything as a nail

And when you are a [censored], you see every butt as an oppurtunity.
TBR

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and
more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day
the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the
White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
"Anyone with degrees from Yale and Harvard is presumed to be intelligent,
but George W. Bush has managed to overcome that presumption."

Neil Gendzwill said:

Funny, that's the way I feel about chiropractors. "Back hurts? You
need a manipulation. Elbow hurts? Let's manipulate that back. Got
corns? You need your back manipulated."

Go see a chiropractor if you want temporary relief and your soft tissues
stretched so reinjury is more likely. They like that cycle, keeps the
customers coming back.

I'll stick to real doctors, thanks.

You have a common problem, that is, one that a chiro cannot fix. If
you go to a surgeon for a toothache, you are unlikely to get relief,
and this true of chiros. This is why some people swear by chiros, and
other swear at them. In order for one to help you, you must have a
problem that can be fixed by manipulation. You apparently did not.
Another thing is that some chiros think they can cure ANYTHING with
manipulation. If you run into one of these quacks, run away very fast.
Look for an older guy, 45YO or older, and you'll find a more sensible
Dr. Before going off and saying they are quacks, remember there are
just as many, if not more, quacks in other fields of medicine, so it
is not unique to chiros.
TBR

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and
more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day
the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the
White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
"Anyone with degrees from Yale and Harvard is presumed to be intelligent,
but George W. Bush has managed to overcome that presumption."

Jay said:

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

many issues.
1) what is your training goal?
2) in the past? are they still unresolved?
3) all exercises put unwanted stress if done with incorrect form and too
heavy of a weight.

work the lower body? to what level? you could do doorway squats, a$$ to
ankles and work the number up daily if you want general conditioning. Learn
what you can about 1 legged squats.
Honestly, my back was terrible UNTIL I included deadlifts in my routine.
felt better than squats at the top end. able to keep form better. If I
need to quit a rep, just drop the weight.

My training goal is to increase muscle mass in the lower body, and get
really strong. With squats, Im worried about what happens if I squat
down and reach failure, how would I get out of it? Drop the barbell
and let it roll down my spine? Ouch!

As for my injury, its fine now... Im not injured... Im just worried
about POTENTIAL injury with dangerous exercises...

If I can avoid danger and get the same results, why not! right?

gg

In article <[email hidden]>,

General Grievous said:

Jay said:

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

many issues.
1) what is your training goal?
2) in the past? are they still unresolved?
3) all exercises put unwanted stress if done with incorrect form and too
heavy of a weight.

work the lower body? to what level? you could do doorway squats, a$$ to
ankles and work the number up daily if you want general conditioning. Learn
what you can about 1 legged squats.
Honestly, my back was terrible UNTIL I included deadlifts in my routine.
felt better than squats at the top end. able to keep form better. If I
need to quit a rep, just drop the weight.

My training goal is to increase muscle mass in the lower body, and get
really strong. With squats, Im worried about what happens if I squat
down and reach failure, how would I get out of it? Drop the barbell
and let it roll down my spine? Ouch!

Use spotters.

Quoted message said:

As for my injury, its fine now... Im not injured... Im just worried
about POTENTIAL injury with dangerous exercises...

It's not dangerous unless you get stupid. ;-)
If you are that worried, use a Smith rack, but that has it's own hazards
with ROM limitations.

Quoted message said:

If I can avoid danger and get the same results, why not! right?

Like I said, don't get stupid with it.

And check your ego at the gym door.

Quoted message said:

gg

Cheers!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

"The Bill Rodgers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

WooferBearATL said:

You really need to find out what the back problems are from an orthopedic
surgeon (NOT A CHIROPRACTOR!!!!

This guys a [censored] idiot! If you want to get cut, go to a surgeon. If
you want to get better, you go to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are
recognized as an important part of any sports clinic, or sports team.
Listen to wooferbutt, and you'll end up crippled for life by a
surgeon.
TBR

Yeah and I think we all know what an expert that you are. Go to an ortho.
They will be able to recommend if you need spinal manipulation or if it is
more severe. I've seen chiropractors that do manipulations on people with
disc bulges and fractures. Do this and you could end up paralyzed.

"Hugh Beyer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bob Garrison" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:08SdnZLO5uR3oKzeRVn-
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"General Grievous" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ive had back problems in the past, and I'm looking to avoid leg press
and squats if possible... both exercises can place stress on the
spine if done with incorrect form and heavy weights. Is it possible
to effectively work the lower body with different and safer exercises?
If someone can recommend a good lower body routine that involves
alternatives, I'd appreciate it!

General Grievous

You might try doing squats in a Smith machine .

Which will reduce stress on his back how, precisely?

Hugh

By keeping the back in a straight upright position, precisely.