How do leg press exercises comply with limited weight bearing?

Objectives: To investigate foot loadings in different leg press settings with respect to a possible graduation of weight bearing (WB).

Design: Case series.

Settings: Assessing plantar force values by means of dynamic pedobarography taken place in orthopaedic departments' rehab center.

Participants: 15 healthy students (9 men and 6 women, age 23 ± 2, weight 75 ± 6 kg) were recruited as participants from the medical faculty.

Main outcome measures: Peak force values from normal gait (referred to as 100%) and single and double leg presses (SLP, DLP) with resistances of 10 kg, 20 kg and 40 kg, obtained with pedobarographic insoles.

Results: Performing DLP produced foot loadings (N) of 37 ± 15 with 10 kg, 91 ± 29 with 20 kg and 203 ± 27 with 40 kg, equal to 5%, 12% and 26% of full WB. SLP result in force values of 195 ± 32 with 10 kg, 308 ± 34 with 20 kg and 516 ± 45 with 40 kg, corresponding to 25%, 40% and 67% baseline.

Conclusions: Leg press exercises can be performed in accordance with a given limitation of foot loading. Above mentioned conditions allow a graduation from 5% to 67% of full WB.