Legs

[Foyer]

As with most my legs are lacking compared to my upper body. Have really bad knees and wear braces when training legs. Need help developing a leg workout that can garner growth without a lot of knee pain.

[JLDUBS]

without the knee pain probably wont happen...if you dont havhe good knees right now chances are your always gonna ahve the pain...have you tried doin high volume...just blitzin the hell out of em...weight you can handle good and just do rep after rep till your legs are jello

[deeder]

Sorry to say bro but if you can't handle the heavy squats you're never gonna build tree-trunk legs.

[TheNaturalG]

How is your form on exercises? On exercises like squats and leg presses you have to go all the way down. If you stop at parallel or above you are putting the strain on your knees. If you go all way down you place the stress on your hamstrings. Just be careful though because the lower you go the harder it is to keep strict form, at least for me.

Another thing I would try is before a leg workout warmup on the upright bike and then warmup on leg extensions. This should warmup up your knees and surrounding areas good. I would also wear some type of neoprene sleeves and maybe sweatpants also just for extra warmth. I always wear sweats when I workout and only strip layers when me being to hot interferes with my workouts.

[WGPBallar]

I use to have a knee problem to while doing workouts. I did alot of wall squats with a ball, squats, and lungs with no weight. Then, as you feel your knee getting a little better put a little weight on. Also you knee problems could be due to an inbalance in the muscles. Do you feel your quads being strong than your hamys, or vise versa. That would be another reason, and you can maybe just focus on one that you think is weaker. When i do squats and leg press i try not go let me knees pass through my toes. I know alot of people say to go down all the way, but i get a good workout and great pumps. I do legs with high reps and then a few low reps like 8 reps being the lowest. Just my two cents.

Ryan

[Wolf Man CHG]

can't stress enough the importance of warming up.....like NaturalG said, a few minutes on the bike and a few light weight- high rep warm-ups on the leg extension machine might make a big difference....I know it did for me

when your doing squats, make sure your not leaning forward too much, that puts added pressure on the joints and is not good.......

[Nine Ball]

As with most my legs are lacking compared to my upper body. Have really bad knees and wear braces when training legs. Need help developing a leg workout that can garner growth without a lot of knee pain.

What's wrong with your knees?

[man in black]

can't stress enough the importance of warming up.....like NaturalG said, a few minutes on the bike and a few light weight- high rep warm-ups on the leg extension machine might make a big difference....I know it did for me


I've never had knee, or any joint problems, but I warm up thoroughly. Several sets of extensions light, light squats before I start my workout. Gotta get the joints warm.

Jeff

[ironshaolin]

As a martial artist, good leg strength is a necessity. AS such, I make sure to train for both endurance and power. Legs are probably my favorite workout next to deads. Here's the workout I've been doing :
10 mins bike (warmup)

One set of Hindu squats to failure, good starting pump

Squats- 5x5 (first 2 are warmups, done prog. heavier and the last 3 are the same weight if you make all 5 reps, go heavier next week)

Stiff deads- 5x5

Leg press- 3 sets for 10, 8, 6
I superset each of these with a wall chair or a horse stance until I fall over, then take 2-3 mins to gather myself and do it again.

Now for the killer. Following this I jump on a treadmill and do 10-15 mins of interval training. 1-2 min jog, then sprint all out for a minute. Walk for a min, sprint, etc.
Next, find a stretch of gym where you have space, or go outside and do as many forward leaps as you can. Bend, explode as high and as far as you can until you can't go anymore.

Finally,
leg extensions-3 sets of 12-15
-superset-
leg curls- 3 sets of 12-15

This workout is intense as being in the middle of a rhino stampede. I save this for once or twice a month, as it will take alot out of you. The combination of HEAVY strength moves, power cardio, bodyweight excersise, high rep isolation moves will give you nice, balanced legs. Thickness, quickness, power and endurance. Yeah, baby, Legs.

[The Wanderer]

As a martial artist, good leg strength is a necessity. AS such, I make sure to train for both endurance and power. Legs are probably my favorite workout next to deads. Here's the workout I've been doing :
10 mins bike (warmup)

One set of Hindu squats to failure, good starting pump

Squats- 5x5 (first 2 are warmups, done prog. heavier and the last 3 are the same weight if you make all 5 reps, go heavier next week)

Stiff deads- 5x5

Leg press- 3 sets for 10, 8, 6
I superset each of these with a wall chair or a horse stance until I fall over, then take 2-3 mins to gather myself and do it again.

Now for the killer. Following this I jump on a treadmill and do 10-15 mins of interval training. 1-2 min jog, then sprint all out for a minute. Walk for a min, sprint, etc.
Next, find a stretch of gym where you have space, or go outside and do as many forward leaps as you can. Bend, explode as high and as far as you can until you can't go anymore.

Finally,
leg extensions-3 sets of 12-15
-superset-
leg curls- 3 sets of 12-15

This workout is intense as being in the middle of a rhino stampede. I save this for once or twice a month, as it will take alot out of you. The combination of HEAVY strength moves, power cardio, bodyweight excersise, high rep isolation moves will give you nice, balanced legs. Thickness, quickness, power and endurance. Yeah, baby, Legs.

Yo, I'm sorry but that sounds like it is going to put alot of stress on the man's knees. A low rep leg press is very hard on someones knees and so are squats. I'm not sure if this is right for him. Peace.

[Foyer]

What's wrong with your knees?

Basically, the cartilage is down to nothing in one knee and gone in the other. Competed on the national level in long distance running. Then played alot of street ball.

[jatta palu]

If there is a pool near you, I would advise you do some running in the pool to strengthen your knees with minimal stress. Not running in place but actually trying to do laps.

[Angry]

Foyer: don't give up brother.

[SDR]

Am I allowed to credit another site for an article that could keep Foyer's Knees in good shape? If not, Foyer PM me.

How about trying single leg squats on the weaker knee, with very little (if any weight), place your non working leg on a small bench and squat.

[Nine Ball]

Basically, the cartilage is down to nothing in one knee and gone in the other. Competed on the national level in long distance running. Then played alot of street ball.

Train in the 15-20 rep range. I don't have the article with me but Ohio State U did a study which claimed that reps of 15-20 help build cartilage, tendon and ligament strength. It's not gona magically fix your problem but it should help or at least stop the process of your body breaking down cartilage.

[WGPBallar]

I found the article that Nine Ball was talking about with the rebuilding of cartilage. Here's the link http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KFY/is_5_23/ai_n14706828 for all you people who just wanted some more info on it. Good find Nine Ball.

[Dingo06]

I found the article that Nine Ball was talking about with the rebuilding of cartilage. Here's the link http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KFY/is_5_23/ai_n14706828 for all you people who just wanted some more info on it. Good find Nine Ball.

BUMP

Been seeing alot of posts about joint pain and such.

[BaseballMonster]

my doc told me i would neer be able to lift heavy weights after having serious knee problems. The next day I was out on my leg press pushing past 900! I was like yeah, no creatine, no shock therapy, just good old me. It was a fuckin inspiration.