What about when you CAN'T go heavier?

[The Dude]

With my back and the nagging leg injuries I can rarely squat and can't seem to make the jump to higher weights on legs. This is a huge set back. We all know how hard it is to train legs when you have all the options.
What would you guys do? Maybe just more sets? Try to do supersets? I'm even thinking about doing some random sets with other body parts. My quads haven't improved in years and they're starting to look unbalanced.

 

[Presser]

i would do more sets, medium weight, i always go til failure, and if you dont do that, then maybe try every set til failure?

 

[CH3NO2]

Heavier is not always better. I remember seeing Dorian Yates workout shoulders and never pick up a dumbell larger than 30 pounds sometimes.

Try killing it with lighter weight, to complete exhaustion like Presser said. Its about the pump and tearing down of the muscle. This can be done with using lighter weights and working till you cannot move any longer. Switch it up...

 

[Buffalo]

I don't know about anyone else but in my opinion anything under 20 reps on legs is a waste of time. My 20 is with 315lbs then maybe I can squeeze 15 of 365lbs but then I'll just do a giant drop set and fail with 135's at 50 reps. It's light weight for most

 

[The Dude]

I don't know about anyone else but in my opinion anything under 20 reps on legs is a waste of time. My 20 is with 315lbs then maybe I can squeeze 15 of 365lbs but then I'll just do a giant drop set and fail with 135's at 50 reps. It's light weight for most

Drop sets on squats?! That's Man Shit!! Maybe I'll see if I can get a couple in on Leg Press. Admittedly I'm a little gun why on legs for fear of injury

 

[WesleyInman]

I would agree with reps of 20..anytime I want to grow my legs, I hit reps of 20 deep, slow and controlled...

My legs were never as big as when I used to do 5 sets of 315x20 2x per week. I lost alot of strength but I was busting out of my pants.

You have to get your breathing up to par to hit reps of 20..i have seen strong guys unable to do 225 for 20 ATG because they have poor cardio.

 

[Buffalo]

Bro I just finished my last set of 50 reps of 115lbs. Felt like a little bitch but it was brutal.

 

[Buffalo]

I would agree with reps of 20..anytime I want to grow my legs, I hit reps of 20 deep, slow and controlled...

My legs were never as big as when I used to do 5 sets of 315x20 2x per week. I lost alot of strength but I was busting out of my pants.

You have to get your breathing up to par to hit reps of 20..i have seen strong guys unable to do 225 for 20 ATG because they have poor cardio.

I agree, deep and slow because you lose control pretty easy when you get winded. Also never fully go all the way up, just 3/4 up so your legs are constantly stressed.

 

[mcgaret]

vary the speed is good. I was doing a OLD routine a while back. One set of 20 squats (with deads and pullovers) Wes was right
on the cardio part. The thing was you would go as heavy as possible, even if it took 3 or 4 min to get to the 20 (just holding
weight until you could get another to get to 20) The thing was every workout you had to add weight, even if just 5 lbs.
I got strong as hell on legs but it is a young mans routine (I think this was from the 60's) My back and hip couldnt take
the stress. My legs were getting strong as hell but I was walking like a old man, bent over and limping. lol People would
ask how I was doing and I would say strong as hell but it was messing up my old joints/injurys. Like I said, it was a
young mans routine. Funny, I have stayed away from squats for that reason, stuck to leg presses. Definitly not the same.
The other day guy was doing squats on smith machine. I figured good way to start so I worked in with him. Felt pretty good.
Next leg day I did them again, went a little heavier and my hip started to hurt, so what did I do? I threw on some more
weight. Keep us posted if you find something that works good, Im also in need. And I realized In still a idiot. lol