Can you substitute the leg press machine for squats???

[mattlew62]

Is it possible to substitute leg presses for squats????

[li0scc0]

For a time period? yes
In order to change things up? Yes
Alternating from workout to workout? Yes
To effectively train around an injury? Yes
TO target a specific part of the thigh safely? Yes
To supplement squats with another effective movement? Yes

However, I would not recommend just replacing squats with leg presses. The squat is a very effective movement. If you can do it safely, do it. If you aren't feeling it in your thighs enough, then add in some sets of leg presses after squatting in order to continue to target the thighs. But continue to squat.

There are a lot of great pros who don't squat. There are not many sets of great thighs that are built without squatting, though. Back in my day, Rich Gaspari didn't squat. But he built his thighs by super heavy squatting (600+ pounds) and powerlifted as well. Once he reached the mass he wanted, he worked on refining this via leg presses and hack squats and leg extensions. But the squats were initially his foundation.

[nitrored]

For a time period? yes
In order to change things up? Yes
Alternating from workout to workout? Yes
To effectively train around an injury? Yes
TO target a specific part of the thigh safely? Yes
To supplement squats with another effective movement? Yes

However, I would not recommend just replacing squats with leg presses. The squat is a very effective movement. If you can do it safely, do it. If you aren't feeling it in your thighs enough, then add in some sets of leg presses after squatting in order to continue to target the thighs. But continue to squat.

There are a lot of great pros who don't squat. There are not many sets of great thighs that are built without squatting, though. Back in my day, Rich Gaspari didn't squat. But he built his thighs by super heavy squatting (600+ pounds) and powerlifted as well. Once he reached the mass he wanted, he worked on refining this via leg presses and hack squats and leg extensions. But the squats were initially his foundation.

So much better than the half-assed answer I was going to give

of course it is

pretty close to the half-assed answer I was going to give
I was going more with the anything is possible angle...

[Zensuji]

Is it possible to substitute leg presses for squats????

of course it is

[Ragnar13]

Can you sustitute leg presses for squats? Technically yes. You can sustitute lateral raises and kickbacks for squats if you wanted to. The gym police are not monitoring you that closely.

I am joking. Actually the first response by li0scc0 was a solid answer. I had to sub out squats due to injuries. I would not get rid of a squatting if that was not my situation.

Bottom line, depends on your goals and what you want to get out of your gym time.

good luck.

[bxbombers]

of course you can,, if your just trying to put a little shape and a little mass on your legs -leg press alone is fine. if you plan on competeing, then no you must spend quality time in the squat rack.

[kev_b81]

i was wondering this too..my routine is a full body workout (a/b) and originally i had squats on A and B days..its killing me (especially on the day I do deadlifts) so I switched squats to leg press on that day...any other good substitutes?

[li0scc0]

Actually that is an excellent plan, using squats one day and leg press the other.
Tom Platz, the man with probably the greatest legs ever, did squats every other leg workout. The other leg workout he focused on hack squats.

I like alternating squats and front squats sometimes as well. I don't have thighs the size of Tom Platz though. Few do.