leg training with back injury-> Any advice?

[BigRedCat]

I have bad sciatica which basically sends a shooting pain down one of my legs so I have serious trouble training legs. I tried ATF squats and it caused major pain in my lower back. So, I have been doing hack squats,leg presses and whatnot but I am getting no gains on my legs. What do you recommend for leg training seeing as my lower back is fucked up. The doctor I went to told me it would "go away" but I have had this for almost a year now. He said it isn't a slipped disc but I dont see how he could tell just by looking at my spine. Anyway, any advice would be appreciated cause I want my legs to grow.

 

[Thaibox]

I have 2 completely fucked discs(L4,5), and atf squats are the worst for them. I believe this is because the curvature they force on your lumbar when your nutsack is scraping the floor. Also, if you're going to round any part of your back during a squat, I think the natural tendancy is to do it at the bottom which just adds to it. I've been trying shallow squats with light weight lately and find that I don't have to lay on the floor for a couple days after leg days anymore. I'm going to start increasing weight, but for me, deep squats are over until I have surgery Give squats just below parallel a try.

 

[BigRedCat]

I tried close to parallel and that wasn't too bad but yeah the ATF are out. Thanks for the response Thaibox.

 

[Victorian guy]

Leg presses, etc

You say you aren't getting anything from leg presses- use more weight, go deeper, try 10 sets of 10, and your legs will be sore. Paul Dillet once said (in either Flex or Musclemag) that he doesn't squat, Dorian didn't squat in his training video(leg presses, hack squats, leg extensions, leg curls) nor does Kovacs in his training video (he used mostly machines for everything besides a bit of dumbell work) and those guys are all HUGE. Both Dorian and, especially, Kovacs, used some pretty serious weight- and look at their legs!
Physically, you have to be getting something out of leg presses. I doubt there is anyone out there leg pressing 1500 pounds, in good form, who doesnt have big legs. Stay away from any and all squats, including smith machine squats, and the machine where you stand under shoulder pads and perform a front squat(usually the stack isnt enough). Unless you want your back problems to get worse. Hell, even hack squats hurt my back now.

 

[CrimsonKing]

Reverse Hypers

 

[BigRedCat]

I was under the impression that leg extensions are pretty bad on the knee's. I did a little research on Dorian and yes you are correct- he seemed to do hack squats,leg presses,extensions and curls. I am just concerned about the stress put on the knee during extensions. I am currently doing a variation of the 5x5 routine- should I extend this to legs, for example- should I do 5x5 leg presses? How about curls and extensions? 5x5 or 3x8-10?

I found the Doria Yates routine- pretty nuts- I think I will use a wee bit less than 1265 for leg presses. haha:

Quads Hamstrings and Calves Workout

Exercise
Sets
Reps
Pounds

Leg extensions
1*
15
130
_
1*
12
200
_
1
10-12
270

Leg presses
1*
12
770
_
1*
12
1045
_
1
10-12
1265

Hack squats
1*
12
440
_
1
10-12
660

Lying leg curls
1*
10-12
130
_
1
10-12
180

Stiff-legged deadlifts
1
8-10
350

Single-leg curls
1
8-10
50

Standing calf raises
1*
10-12
900
_
1
10-12
1300

Seated calf raises
1
10-12
250
_
* Warm-up set _