Leg Extensions for Mass

[Pairunoyd]

The logic of leg exts. not building mass has always sounded a bit hollow to me, even though in practice it seems to be true. Would you say that pushdowns for the triceps doesn't build mass? That you should probably only do pressing movements? Why wouldn't extending your legs under the resistance of an ext. machine until failure not build mass? Wouldn't the affected muscles adapt to the stress by building more mass? Can you not get stronger in the ext.? If you get stronger, does that mean you've got more muscle? If you've got more muscle doesn't that mean more mass?

I understand the idea of extending 100lbs for 8 reps is less than squatting 350lbs for 8 reps, but I also understand that pushing down 100lbs for 12 reps is less than pressing 200lbs or 12 reps. But we don't seem to down the pushdowns like we do the exts.

[Fudog1138]

I do heavy extensions, but do them after leg press or squat. As for a serious mass builder? I don't know. How much fiber does it recruit? In the excercises range of motion it certainley doesn't allow for extremely heavy weight as a squat would, but you also don't recruit as many muscles to perform the task.
So as a mass builder? I just don't see it's ability to be anywhere near the squat. Don't think the knees would be able to handle the extreme strain. I'm no MD though.

[Chris_25]

I don't do leg extensions or pushdowns. In my routine there is no need for either of them. I wouldn't consider them mass builders compared to the squat for legs and pressing movements for triceps because you can't use as much weight. I personally don't think anything can compare to squats. They don't just strengthen your legs, they strengthen your whole body and you also get to work on your balance while doing them. Yea of course you can get stronger on the leg extension meaning you use more weight but no that doesn't automatically mean you have put on any muscle. There are also plenty of ppl that dislike pushdowns as much as leg extensions if not more.

[Fudog1138]

I like to do them both when I finish. The pump from extensions and pushdowns is awesome. Especially when supersetted with hammy or bicep excercises.

[Gurutoyou]

I usually take communion and say a few Our Fathers for mass, but now that Father Squat put a leg extension machine on the alter, I've been born again.
Yes, extensions can build mass, but not the way you are doing them. Try this for three weeks tops, and you'll see a difference. I promise.
I won't get into whether your current leg routine is right or wrong. It's probably wrong. But at least you are only doing leg extensions at the end of the routine. If at all. Right?
Most of the Point Of Flexion (POF) of the Leg Extension is exhausted through all of the pressing and squatting sets done prior to the Leg Extension part of the workout.
Leg Extensions should not be done in sets per se. Pick a weight that you can do 8 reps tops. It has to be a weight that you will reach failure on by the seventh or eighth rep.
Now, take that weight and do five reps. Hold the last rep at the top, for a good solid second. Now rest only long enough to do five more reps. The hold might be a little harder. Now you've done ten reps. Do 15 more, in increments of three reps, holding at the third rep and resting about thirty seconds between each three rep sub set.
This way you exhaust the top range of the POF without putting the rest of the range through several unproductive high rep sets. All those additional sets only serve to overtrain your quads and are hard on your knees. In fact, you should skip the extensions all together about every third workout.
After two or three weeks of finishing your quad workout with 25 reps of heavy leg extensions, you'll see some new shape and mass building around your lower quads.

[-Lucifer]

The logic of leg exts. not building mass has always sounded a bit hollow to me, even though in practice it seems to be true. Would you say that pushdowns for the triceps doesn't build mass? That you should probably only do pressing movements? Why wouldn't extending your legs under the resistance of an ext. machine until failure not build mass? Wouldn't the affected muscles adapt to the stress by building more mass? Can you not get stronger in the ext.? If you get stronger, does that mean you've got more muscle? If you've got more muscle doesn't that mean more mass?

I understand the idea of extending 100lbs for 8 reps is less than squatting 350lbs for 8 reps, but I also understand that pushing down 100lbs for 12 reps is less than pressing 200lbs or 12 reps. But we don't seem to down the pushdowns like we do the exts.

I don't think leg extensions were meant to be a mass building exercise. They're more of a 'rehabilitation movement', in my opinion.

You are 47 years old and I don't think extensions will do you any favours. Stick to back and front squats, along with some deadlifts and/or good mornings and your legs will grow just fine. It's entirely your call.

Just my two cents.

[Concat]

It's all relative. Leg extensions will promote muscle growth, they just aren't labelled as "mass building" when in the face of lifts like squats and other compounds.

[TrollKilla]

I tag them onto the end og my lower days just in case they are of any use. Good pump!

[darinaldi]

I'm sure that Pairunoyd is grateful that all of you are answering his question eleven years after he asked it.

[veggie530]

I'm sure that Pairunoyd is grateful that all of you are answering his question eleven years after he asked it.

****ing lol

[oldballs]

I'm sure that Pairunoyd is grateful that all of you are answering his question eleven years after he asked it.

what was the question?