Squats. SM or PR

[MissSTK]

For the last 2 years I have been doing my squats in a power rack and they were working GREAT. But then when Neil's knees started to hurt, we got rid of the power rack and got a leg press. I tried to do my squats again in the smith machine, cause I really need them, but that made my right knee hurt. Has anyone else had this problem? If not, any tips how to fix it?

BTW** We have all the equipment here at home,cause there are NO good gyms anywhere near here. Right now I have a standing calf raise machine, smith machine, leg press, trap bar, neck harness, free bars, tons of weights, bench, dumbells, and an ez curl bar.

Any ideas on what I can do in place of squats if no solution for the knee pain?
*Forever STK's LiL Lady*
***May you forever rest in peace baby***
~~~RIP STK 1972-2003~~~
He truly was God's greatest creation

[Mr.X]

For the leg press, what are your feet postures? wide/short?

I would try using some DMSO on the site to see if it helps w/ the knee.

Mr.X

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***Forever STK's Iron Brother***
~~~RIP STK 1972-2003~~~
STK truly was God's greatest creation
***May you forever rest in peace***

[DTD]

That leg press DEFINITELY needs some WD40 on the right hand slide, it seemed to have a bit of a catch about half way through the ROM...It seemed sticky, and that will ruinate the knees quickly...

There's no substitute for squats, of course, but biomechanically, the worst thing you can do to your knees is squat on that damn smith machine...The sheer force at the patella in a 200 lb. man squatting 200 measly pounds on the smith is over 900 lbs.!!...I need to cite that to be technical...hahaha...

But seriously, don't use the smith at all for squats...You are comprimising the shit out of the knee ligaments on that one...

I would say grease that leg press up and keep the foot stance comfortable, the higher you place your feet on the platform the more of an effect you will feel in the hamstrings, the lower you place them, the more it will hit the quads (but if they are too low, your knees will SCREAM): the narrower your feet are, once again, within reason, the more the quads are activated, and the wider you place your feet, the more hip/piriformis activation will occur...

Just don't be extreme with foot placement, put 'em where they feel the best...shoulder width at about the mid point of the platform seems to be the consensus...

Personally I don't like the smith machine it is uncomfortable for me and i get more benefit out of the power rack .I think alot of the machines were built for men and don't conform to our bodies.When I do decide to use the smith machine I actually turn backwards on it and it seems to go smoother

confusious says :Man who snatches kisses when young, kisses snatches when old