Is it possible to get big legs without squatting?

Is it possible to build massive legs without squatting or hack squats?

I know this may have been posted before.

Any articles, advice or information on this would be nice :+1:

Do you have knee or hip issues?

yes.

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Most folks aren’t going to build massive legs IN GENERAL, even IF they squat.

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Maybe genetics plays the largest component. It is something to consider.

I had an experience when I hurt my back moving boxes to move to another apartment. I was about 26 and found that I could not do squats or deadlifts, that I was accustomed to doing. I was far from having big enough legs (at 6’ 0" tall with long legs for my height) to have a balanced physique.

I was stuck with doing leg presses on a vertical leg presses machine (before inline leg press machines existed, as best that I know.) I used as much weight as I could doing sets of 10 reps, never less reps. I also did leg extensions and leg curls. I put on a good amount of muscle, enough so to place higher than someone who had a much better upper body than I did, but appeared to have not put much effort into leg training. It seemed odd that my lagging body part was what made a positive difference in a contest.

So, I would have to say squats were not a necessary requirement for “big” legs.

But the difference between my legs that day (30 years old) and what they looked like when I was 43 and able to do squats for the previous 3 years with a good amount of weight is very clear.

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100% Most folks aren’t going to have massive ANYTHING, no matter how hard they train and eat. So instead of that, let’s just focus on productive.

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Go mountain biking with a direct drive bike.

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I have some old injuries that prevent deadlifts and squats. You’d never know that seeing me naked. I did both lifts for many years as the cornerstones of training. There is no doubts about their benefits and abilities to build size and strength. But, as I got older, now upper 40s, my scar tissue and things just never really being the same after getting hurt has caught up with me and those two exercises are just too risky for me. I’ve used them in recent years, but on several occasions afterwards paid the price with inflammation and pain lasting some time after. So, I use reverse lunges and Bulgarian split squats. Both keep me strong and don’t aggravate my injuries. Usually! So the answer is you can still look like you hit leg day without doing squats.

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Yes and likely far more optimal ways than a traditional squat… Leg press, Pendulum Squats, Hack Squats

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This can’t be overstated

May i suggest some prowler or sled work.

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My patella tendon couldn’t take any hack squats, at all. So, without squats or hack squats (and I didn’t do any lunges at that time period) I managed to put on some decent thigh size. All effort went into the leg press.

If i recall, Dorian Yates did not do back squats

Leg ext
Leg press
Hack squat
Stiff leg deadlifts
Leg curls

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That depends on what you consider massive. By bodybuilding standards, no.

Every example you see of bodybuilders not doing squats is only because it got to a point where lifting the weights was dangerous or too risky. However, they did not build the mass without squat patterns.

yes Backward drags work the quads very hard.

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After seeing OTay’s comment, “massive” carries a pretty impressive look connotation. In no ways would I consider my legs were ever “massive” regardless how it is said. You are deep into genetics when talking “massive.”

But “massive” by bodybuilding standards as compared to just “massive” legs is like comparing the quickness of a Top Fuel Dragster with very quick production car, as in a 12 second quarter mile ET. There is a freaky difference.

That was after many years of training. He was squatting 465 for 10 reps

The squat caused him issues but, he still believed it was the best exercise.

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This was only in the later part of his time as a bodybuilder and after an injury. When he was growing he did do squats. But the point you made is still valid, plenty of other good ways to build leg muscle.

But they could have… especially now with equipment like Pendulum Squats and well-designed Hacks and Leg Presses