Squats vs. lying down leg presses

Is there supposed to be a lifting differential between what on can push while doing leg presses lying down vs. squats? I am thinking there has to be because standing up to do squats puts one's body weight load on your legs too that lying down would not.

So, one would have to lift less than what they can leg press to accommodate the body weight standing on one's legs.

Right?

Replies

  • tomcornhole
    tomcornhole Posts: 1,084 Member
    Bumping to follow.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,056 Member
    I don't think I've ever seen anyone squat what they leg press. The use of the upper body stability is much more involved in a squat than a leg press. Personally I can stack 16 45's on a leg press and get 6 good reps out of them. I wouldn't be able to do even half of that on a squat.

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  • kapoorpk
    kapoorpk Posts: 244 Member
    Yeah..that's the logic I am using to conclude, just wanted to make sure. I could load upto 300 lbs on the leg press and do 6 reps but have to scale down to 205lbs when doing squats for 4 sets of 6 each. I now weight about 157lbs, so its my body weight compensating for the difference. It has too or it would imply I lose strength all of a sudden as I move from leg press to squats. That would be absurd.

    makes sense right?
  • iceqieen
    iceqieen Posts: 862 Member
    Yubb lack of bodyweight + less core involvement in the legpress seems logical to me.
  • cingle87
    cingle87 Posts: 717 Member
    Yeah there is no way I could squat what i leg press currently, not even close. On my last gym session I managed to press 120Kg for 10 rep x 3 so I could easily do 130/140 for 5. Now I hate squatting but we all know its a evil we must all endure but If i tried squatting 130kg Id break my back.
  • DarrelBirkett
    DarrelBirkett Posts: 221 Member
    Yes, they are different.

    If you consider that a squat targets your quads, but also uses your glutes, hams and calfs as synergists and hams/back as stabalister.

    Leg press also uses similar targets and synergist but you remove the stabliser. One less thing to think about I guess, with a heavy leg press you dont wobble around when you get close to failure ;)

    Both of course will be in any good leg routine.

    Thought this was handy :

    Squat Benefits

    Greater hip range of motion (ROM) enhances hamstring and glute development.
    Increased stabilizer and assistant muscle involvement improves overall strength and mass.
    Hip adductor (inner thigh) involvement contributes to overall leg size.
    No specialized equipment or apparatus required.
    More bang for the buck: You target several leg and torso muscles with one exercise.

    Leg Press Benefits

    Leg press apparatus provides proper positioning and safety.
    Maximal weight can be used to overload the target muscle group (quads).
    Minimal stabilizer and assistant muscle involvement increases emphasis on the quads.
    Limited involvement of glutes and hamstrings leads to concentrated quad development.
    Foot plate allows you to shift the emphasis on the leg muscles by changing foot position.

    So you see the maximal weight comment.