Should I get knee wraps?

[changemyoil66]

So basically I've been recovering from a back injury for the past 3 months which prevented me from doing heavy legs and deadlifts. But now I'm 100% and my knees are starting to hurt. They dont hurt right away but only when I start leg extentions see below:

Routine

Squats 335x5
335x4
335x3

hack Squats

4 platesx6x5x5

Leg Press
12platesx6x5x5

Now is when I start to get pressure in my knees

Leg extentions

195X12 <===pressure starts and this is a light warm up set
255x12
255 + 45lbs plate pinned in. Machine only goes to 255. x10x10x8

So basically should I start using wraps because the pain in my knees prevent me from doing heavier leg extentions. I was thinking to only use wraps when I get the pain or should I use them from the get go. I dont want to rely on them to much.

[HevEw8]

how about just ditching the insanely heavy leg extensions since you dont have issues with anything else?

Maybe replace with walking lunges or high rep front squats?

[changemyoil66]

Even when I go light on warm up sets, I feel the pressure build. I used to do lunges but noticed my hip joints become sore. And once I stopped, the pain went away. I love xtentions because it really makes my quads grow. Ill look into front squats.

[mc-]

Even when I go light on warm up sets, I feel the pressure build. I used to do lunges but noticed my hip joints become sore. And once I stopped, the pain went away. I love xtentions because it really makes my quads grow. Ill look into front squats.

1) agree with dumping leg extensions - they are NOT NATURAL - to try to go open chain lower body lift up on load like that - the shearing can be awful. so screw those.

2) "I used to do lunges but noticed my hip joints become sore."
^^^^^^^^ This needs to be a big clue that something fundamental is not right in your movement. Lunges are awesome movements and if you can't do them, that needs to be fixed, not ignored. That means see a movement specialist - cuz if lunges are bugging you and you're knees are bugging you then something in your basic movement patterns is not right. And it won't matter if you do squats or anything else - the debt will come to be collected.

Two suggestions:
a) get a daily mobility program in your life
(here's some suggestions http://www.begin2dig.com/2009/12/z-h...qigong-or.html)
b) see a movement coach who can look at how you move and get you working on your weaknesses - which might be visual, or balance or proprioceptive
(examples http://www.begin2dig.com/2010/11/wha...for-petes.html)

3) if you want mass on your quads, do squats - check out dan john's mass made simple.
http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_...ss_made_simple


Hope that helps

mc