Leg Extensions

[Dave Van Skike]

if a pt is suggesting leg extension or whatever the knee machine is called, forward him my email, I'm casting a snuff film.

for real. that thing is not good for the kneecap at all, there are far safer, better alternatives. ... TKE's for one.

[Brian DeGennaro]

Not only is the leg extension bad at the top of the movement, but even more so at the bottom. For most people the bottom of the leg extension places a weighted over-stretch on the patella because of the position of the pad and the seat. Notice how when you hook yourself into the machine you have to be sitting up before you get into the reclined position? You can't be reclining in that machine to do anything safely except relax with your leg propped up on the pads.

Also, the GHR on a GHD is a compound movement because it incorporates back, hip and knee flexion. The hamstring raise is a single joint movement. Also the GHD situp is like the anterior chain equivalent of a GHR. At full ROM it does place the hip in complete extension (hyperextension for some) and the knee in flexion. From there it completely closes both joints.

[Robert Callahan]

Originally Posted by Brandon Oto

If glute-ham raises are so good for improving hip extension, why aren't we all doing leg extensions to develop beastly hip flexion and powerful quads?

Nobody does GHR as a primary exercise for hip extension. They use it as an assistance exercise to help work weaknesses and improve their squat/DL/PC/whatever and the GHR has a decent carry over to those moves so it makes sense. If leg extensions had more functional carry over of strength to hip flexion they may be employed more frequently, but they don't so they aren't

-Robert

[Patrick Yeung]

Im in class right now, so I cant really read all the posts. But ive always seen the sissy squat as the oppisite of GHD.

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...issySquat.html
*wfs - sorry, forgot*


This seems to be completely quad passed. And quite difficult to perform.

[jake oleander]

Originally Posted by Patrick Yeung

Im in class right now, so I cant really read all the posts. But ive always seen the sissy squat as the oppisite of GHD.

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...issySquat.html

This seems to be completely quad passed. And quite difficult to perform.

MY KNEES! lol

you can have that one...ill take my weak quads!

[Brandon Oto]

That is really freaking cool.

[Gavin Harrison]

Part of what makes a GHR good is that it uses the hamstring at both ends. I think a lot of folks perform them by first doing a hip extension then a knee flexion type movement. That and I agree with Steven. Also, don't GHD sit ups work the rectus femoris and the abs, kind of the opposite things to the GHR, except it doesn't work the whole quad so much.

[Brandon Oto]

Yeah. That knee articulation seems important.

Anyone tried those sissy squats? Seem really neat and I agree it looks almost like a mirror opposite to the GHR (although goofier and maybe less safe).

[Steven Low]

Sissy squats like hindu squats... and various examples of high stress movements like weighted muscle ups & triceps extensions on the elbows especially... are bad for your joints if you're not strong enough to handle them. Be careful! Pain = no no.

[Allen Yeh]

Originally Posted by Brandon Oto

Yeah. That knee articulation seems important.

Anyone tried those sissy squats? Seem really neat and I agree it looks almost like a mirror opposite to the GHR (although goofier and maybe less safe).

I've used them in the past, never with any weight on my chest , Patrick beat me to it though as when I first started reading the thread the sissy squat came to mind as a counterpart for a GHR.