Legs or back: in your opinion, which gets neglected more?

[EliKoehn]

We've all surely heard and probably participated in the "Never skip legs day" criticism, but I actually often see plenty of leg work - lots of people routinely working legs with squats, hack squats, leg press, various machines, etc. However, I actually don't see nearly as much back work: pullups, rows, deadlifts, even the machines aren't too popular.

Just an interesting observation since the back comprises another important group that I would think people should be made fun of for skipping in the same way, but you don't really hear it like you do with legs, when skipped/neglected. Having an underdeveloped back relative to the rest of the musculature is potentially the worst individual group to have that status (overall stability, balance, posture all adversely affected), yet seldom does it seem to be much of an object of shaming as it is with legs.

Of course, my experience is anecdotal to my own little microcosm of the massive lifting world.

What do you observe?

[safcpaul]

Legs because it's the first thing I skip if I'm pushed for time lol. I still put alot of effort into back though. In fact all I do for legs are squats, good mornings and the occasional calf raises lol. Legs I hate training but do it so I don't look ridiculous with a big upper and small lower body

[coachcalande]

So many start off Mondays with chest/tris…back bis Tuesday….rest of week at the bar…

[BeginnerGainz]

Yes

[kcuviello]

you walk with your legs everyday, literally THOUSANDS of reps (*steps?)...ever walk once with your back? I think you have the answer you need.

[TolerantLactose]

The are more 2-plate benchers than 1-plate squatters at my gym so I'm going with legs.

Menswear in and out of the gym lets guys get away with not training legs for aesthetics so many do.

[EiFit91]

This is an interesting one.

I heard someone say back day is the new leg day but don’t know if it is true.

I am personally way more guilty of skipping leg day.

[BeginnerGainz]

This is an interesting one.

I heard someone say back day is the new leg day but don’t know if it is true.

I used to train back and quads on the same day.

Sorry just felt like throwing it out there.

[EiFit91]

I used to train back and quads on the same day.

Sorry just felt like throwing it out there.

Lol I will do the same tomorrow actually

[WolfRose7]

you walk with your legs everyday, literally THOUSANDS of reps (*steps?)...ever walk once with your back? I think you have the answer you need.

That fact that this comment exists lends weight to the skips leg side lol

[TheShadowMan]

Legs, definitely. Particularly the front of the lower leg, the tibias. Hardly anyone works those, just the calf - and it ends up looking disproportionate.

[Xpiro]

Hmm just from personal exp and limited sample size I see guys hitting up machine and cable rows and pulldowns all the time at my gym, and I’ve seen a couple guys squat. Once in a blue moon. Being said, I work out late as hell so there’s usually only a single other person maybe 2 in there.

Probably around the same ratio at my older gyms with more people but it’s hard to remember. My current gym doesn’t cater to legs nearly as much as chest and back, sporting only one prone leg curl/leg extension combo machine and a plate loaded sled leg press.

Personally I work with more leg volume and more back volume than any other body part.

[ECGordyn]

Legs.

Though I haven't been inside many commercial gyms for 18 months, I seem to recall mostly girls doing the leg press, smith squat, and glute kickback machines, while guys were doing shoulder raises, pulldowns, and curls. Something called socialized gender norms maybe?

I neglect back the most.