why do you believe that extentions are bad for your knees? the “study” that the whole idea that they cause damage to the joint was done on CADAVERS. they cause no problems if done strictly. and michele, if you choose to try “sissy squats” you are supposed to hold onto something (ex. power rack) with one hand while you do them. try this, open a door half way and put your feet on each side so you are stradleing the door, hold onto the door knobs, lean back and just keep your body streight from your knees up, now go down to your knees,you will not get verry far down with the door there but that should give you an idea of what the exercise is. peace hetyey225
I never said extensions were bad for my knees. I just hate doing them. I’ve developed an adversion to weight machines, I’d much rather only use the free weights and I wanted to know what I could do to work the same muscles and ditch the last two machines in my workout
sory, the first part was to greg, oops. peace
char: I got into a heated discussion with some guys about a year ago (on another board) that the mechanics and center of gravity of the human body didn’t ALLOW someone to do Sissys with a free bar! (And I STILL don’t believe it!)But they were adamant. (When I think about it, those guys probably could barely do a conventional partial squat!) I think that what they were ultimately doing were front squats! So…I’m with you on this one…Smith Machine or Free Plate…(I guess those guys had me partially convinced!)
Actually, the leg extension can cause more problems for the knees. Most people have some degree of tracking problems (ie knee doesnt track perfectly) due to muscle imbalances in the leg. For example a weak VMO, tight ITB band, TFL or stronger vastus lateralis will all cause the knee to be pulled slightly laterally during tracking. THe leg extension will reinforce this tracking during the movement. Or said a different way, each rep makes the knee go through the preexisting faulty tracking line.
I gotta disagree with your assessment of leg extensions. I believe that, if they are done strictly, not swinging it 100 mph like most people do it, it is actually good for the knee. Leg extensions hit the VMO really hard, and people like Bill Roberts who use them regularly, report a more teardrop shape to the quads from the enhanced development of the VMO. The VLO is involved, to be sure, but the muscle that is really hit hard is the VMO. My only objection to the leg extension is that it is not very functional. It is cosmetic exercise that only makes your quads look good, but I can happily live with that, and the more stable knee that a strong VMO lends.
I forgot to add that the post was from me–Hyok
erik, sorry but you are wrong. the study showing it to be dangerous was done on CADAVERS, they were not brought up to room temp, rigamortis had set in, ect… medexonline has done several studdies showing INCREASED stability
Seated Good Mornings are a great hamstring movement.
Erik: I see what you’Re saying about tracking problems with the leg extensions, but wouldn’t you be able to solve them by simply turning your leg in or out a bit to put various “angles of pressure” on the muscles? Just a thought.
To Mufasa: Yeah, sometimes we hear stuff and it gets into our heads for life. Tell you what, next time someone says they can do a sissy squat with a barbell and no support, ask 'em to demonstrate. (If you take a video of it, maybe TC will give you that leather jacket he's been talking about... :-) )
Sorry, forgot to say that that last post was from me…
hyok and hetyet – reread my post. i was not talking about stability studies. i am speaking of patella tracking and if you know anything about sports injuries or rehab youll agree that if one’s knee is pulled laterally than a leg extension will reinforce improper tracking. many of us do have strength imbalances and do have an improper tracking kneet so some degree. also the VMO is ONLY recruited durnig the last 5 degrees of a knee extension, not durnig the whole range. there is a difference between the VMO and the vastus medialis.