back extensions - am I doing something wrong?

[Haraldur Gísli Sigfússon]

hey there,

I was just wondering if the back extensions should work on your legs as well as the lower back?

I ask because yesterday when I was doing those back extensions I really had a problem holding my self up because of my calves, they got really tired.

[David Wood]

It would be considered pretty much normal to "feel" back extensions in your hamstrings (back of upper legs).

Feeling it in your calves would be . . . well, extreme, but not impossible.

[Haraldur Gísli Sigfússon]

yeah, I also did ''feel'' them in the hamstrings as you mentioned.

but might this somehow be because my upper body is stronger than my lower body? (not that I think that's the problem, I've got no chicken legs)

[Paul Sousa]

Were you on the GHD, or was it the one where your legs are at a 45 degree angle to the floor (see link)? I find the latter can put a strain on your calves whereas the GHD places it strictly on your G, H and D.

(wfs)http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2002/backextension.jpg

[Haraldur Gísli Sigfússon]

Originally Posted by Paul Sousa

Were you on the GHD, or was it the one where your legs are at a 45 degree angle to the floor (see link)? I find the latter can put a strain on your calves whereas the GHD places it strictly on your G, H and D.

(wfs)http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2002/backextension.jpg

yeah! I was using the one that's in the link

there's no GHD in my gym

[Paul Sousa]

Then I would say calf strain is normal. My calves would get a mean stretch when I used that, but once I switched to the GHD I stopped feeling it.

[Haraldur Gísli Sigfússon]

all right, this was the answer I was looking for, now I can figure how I can solve this problem my self..

thanks!