| I tend to think that there are very few 'bad' exercises | | | | feel kind of tight and tired once they get up around |
| for hockey workouts. I do however believe there are | | | | 200lbs, but that leg press, well they can load that thing |
| some really bad exercise machines out there. About | | | | up with 8 plates a side plus their buddy sitting on top of |
| five years ago I was working in a 10,000 square foot | | | | the sled for about 4 reps. |
| athlete training facility with a sprinting track, turf, | | | | Let's think about that. You just told me that your back |
| Olympic lifting platforms, beautiful power racks - | | | | is too weak to support a 200lb load, but you are |
| everything you could want or need. More than once | | | | building legs that can exert 800lbs of force. When you |
| we had a junior hockey player come to visit the facility | | | | actually step on the ice to play hockey what is going |
| and say, "Where are all the machines?" You only use | | | | to support your torso once your legs start applying |
| one machine to play hockey - your BODY. | | | | their force? We know your core is not trained to do |
| Keeping that in mind I would like to share with you the | | | | that because you took it out of the equation when you |
| worst exercise that is epidemic in hockey workouts. | | | | set the squat bar down and walked over to the leg |
| Drum roll please...it is the Leg Press! | | | | press. Well done. Enjoy your back and or groin/hip |
| Let me start with what I like about the leg press | | | | injury later this season. |
| machine. Nothing. | | | | Now swallow your pride, get back over to that squat |
| Okay, now to what I don't like about the leg press | | | | bar. Learn how to do an excellent front squat and build |
| machine. When I was in University I liked the leg press; I | | | | strong legs, hips and core muscles. Work the body as |
| could load 3 plates on each side (and I am just a | | | | a system of muscles not as individuals. |
| skinny girl), do some reps, feel super strong as I put my | | | | While you are busy throwing the Leg Press out of |
| six plates away at the end of my sets. This is exactly | | | | your gym, would you please throw those Seated Hip |
| the reason for using the leg press that I get for hockey | | | | Ab/Adduction machines out too? Thanks - because |
| players. They tell me that squatting makes their back | | | | they are garbage too. |