Leg Press Myths

I read this on a Facebook thread... "I have low back issues but I can leg press 1200, no BS, it's good form, but squats and deadlifts hurt still." Responses: "Leg presses cause pelvic tilt which crushes your spine and disks. Stay away from them." "...But leg presses can be so detrimental and don't seem to provide a whole lot of reward." This was the post and first two comments. I didn't have to go any further - I immediately had a headache. I had seen enough for the day. But it sparked this post so I guess it was worth it, more so for you than me. Let me clear a few things up... (Mostly) MYTH - The leg press is bad for your back. The old school vertical style leg press, where you lay on your back perpendicular to the ground, and you are pressing the sled vertical toward the ceiling...Yeah that's bad for your back. The machine is absolute garbage, designed by someone that had never lifted a weight in their life (I'm assuming so don't google me bro). If you could imagine for a moment, stand with a barbell on your back, hinge to the bottom of a good morning, now squat. That's what this machine replicates. And now I think you can see why it would be bad for your back. The EliteFTS style leg press which I'm guessing is about 45 degrees won't hurt your spine when done properly - referring to bracing and range of motion and tempo and load. MYTH - The weight you can leg press correlates to how much you can squat. You can't build a squat by leg pressing. There are more guys that leg press 1000lbs than squat 1000lbs. MYTH - The leg press doesn't help your squat. The leg press, in my experience, is one of the best squat (and deadlift) builders. You can load it heavy with minimal risk. You don't have to load your spine. And it teaches you to "press" with your legs - something that correlates well to both the squat and deadlift. MYTH - The leg press is only for bodybuilders. Steve Goggins used to leg press with Ronnie Coleman. And they'd push each other HARD on this movement. It's why Ronnie had massive legs and Steve had a massive squat. FACT - No one cares what you leg press. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.