title: Strength, body composition, and functional outcomes in the squat versus leg press exercises.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to compare strength, body composition, and functional outcome measures following performance of the back squat, leg press, or a combination of the two exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were pair-matched based on initial strength levels and then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a squat-only group (SQ) that solely performed squats for the lower body; a leg press-only group (LP) that solely performed leg presses for the lower body, or a combined squat and leg press group (SQ-LP) that performed both squats and leg presses for the lower body. All other RT variables were held constant. The study period lasted 10 weeks with subjects performing 2 lower body workouts per week comprising 6 sets per session at loads corresponding to 8-12 RM with 90- to 120-second rest intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that SQ had greater transfer to maximal squat strength compared to the leg press. Effect sizes favored SQ and SQ-LP versus LP with respect to countermovement jump while greater effect sizes for dynamic balance were noted for SQ-LP and LP compared to SQ, although no statistical differences were noted between conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that both free weights and machines can improve functional outcomes, and that the extent of transfer may be specific to the given task.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioscience, Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, Brazil.|Department of Kinesiology, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Fabrício E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, CUNY Lehman College, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Brad J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Schoenfeld
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioscience, Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Skyler
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ocetnik
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioscience, Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology Program, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vigotsky
authors.affiliation: Sport Performance Research Institute, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bret
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.affiliation: Weightology, LLC, Issaquah, WA, USA.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Performance and Health Education, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, USA - jcholewa@coastal.edu.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cholewa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D014891:Weight Lifting; D055815:Young Adult