His Majesty, the SQUAT

Why is it the king of exercises? It undoubtedly took the throne thanks to its incredible effectiveness, its ability to activate the muscles of practically the whole body and to stimulate the release of important anabolic hormones. Even so there are still nitpickers with the persistent question: why isn't the leg press the king of exercises? Experienced lifters just smile at that; usually they don't even consider it necessary to argue. They simply know, they have enough experience and they don't need to get into debates like that. We'll try to supply the right answers to those who need them. I CAN HANDLE MORE WEIGHT ON THE LEG PRESS, SO WHY SHOULD I SQUAT? One of the most common questions you'll meet on this subject. The lifter argues that some guys load over 400 kg on the leg press. They'd never manage a squat with that weight. And if heavier weights build more strength and more mass, wouldn't it be better to go for the leg press? No — not when you look in detail at how the two exercises are performed. SQUATS – as has already been said – activate practically the whole body. The main role is of course played by the thigh and glute muscles, but the calves, the trunk muscles and other parts of the upper body have to work too. You hold the bar on your back, so its weight really does act on the whole body. You have to keep your balance, keep the load in the right position and, at the same time, perform the squat through simultaneous movement at the hips, knees and ankles. THE LEG PRESS you perform in a completely different starting position, namely lying on your back. You push the load with your legs, so it acts practically exclusively on the lower half of the body. You brace the trunk, but it is supported; neither its position nor the action of the weight on the muscles in this part of the body is practically at the centre of your attention at all. Whereas in squats you control both the load and the position of the whole body, in the leg press the movement path is give…