Bodybuilding legend Tom Platz has become famous for his immense leg development and is considered one of the greatest leg trainers of all time. starting his career as a competitive bodybuilder in the 70s, he is widely regarded as the best in bodybuilding history, with impressive quadriceps muscle sets that quickly made him a household name in the fitness industry.

His legs were characterized by their impressive size, symmetry, and muscle definition. For this reason, he was known as the "Golden Eagle," pushing his own limits and scaling new heights in leg training, earning him an enthusiastic following of fans and aspiring bodybuilders who sought to emulate his training methods.

It is no wonder that Platz's leg workouts remain prominent today and are known for their combination of high volume, high weight, compound exercises and isolation movements targeting the quads, hamstrings, and glutes.

Intrigued by Platz's legacy, I decided to give this workout a try and see if it really is what it seems.

Assumption: the Platz leg workout became famous for its intensity and effectiveness.

Like any other muscle group, leg muscles need adequate rest and recovery to grow and develop. Overtraining causes muscle fatigue, which increases the risk of injury and hinders progress. Therefore, it is essential to balance intense leg training with appropriate rest days to optimize muscle repair and growth.

Still, I thought it couldn't hurt to give this workout a try. Before I share my experience trying Tom Platz's leg workout, let's delve into what this workout is all about. There is no denying that Tom's famous leg routine is a tough and demanding exercise. Focusing primarily on lower body strength and size, it combines heavy compound exercises, isolation movements, and high-volume training.

Platz's exact leg routine varied throughout his career, but here are the key elements of Platz's leg workout and the number of sets/times required for each exercise:

The cornerstone of Platz's leg routine is a series of squats and this is done with heavy weights and high intensity (click here for adjustable dumbbells that are ideal for weight training at home). This compound exercise works multiple muscle groups and promotes overall leg development.

HOW TO: Perform 4 to 5 sets of 8 to 12 squats, focusing on squatting deep and maintaining proper form (click here to learn how to squat). Use a weight of sufficient difficulty to promote muscle hypertrophy.

Next is the leg press, which further emphasizes the quads and provides additional support for heavier loads. It can also be adjusted to target different areas of the quads.

HOW TO DO IT Perform 4-5 sets of 8-12 repetitions, gradually increasing the weight. Perform as deep as your flexibility will allow, with full range of motion and control. Here are the results of this fitness writer's two weeks of daily use of the leg press.

Another isolating exercise that makes up Tom's rigorous routine is the leg extension, which focuses primarily on the quads and produces an intense burn in the targeted muscles. This exercise is usually performed with a high number of repetitions to induce muscle hypertrophy (in essence, an increase in total muscle mass and cross-sectional area).

HOW TO: Using a leg extension machine, perform 3 to 4 sets of 12 to 15 repetitions. Focus on squeezing the quads at the top of each repetition. Here's what happened when this fitness writer added 60 leg extensions to her weekly routine.

The last one is the hack squat, which focuses on the quads but also works the glutes and hamstrings. While focusing on the quads, it also works the glutes and hamstrings.

HOW TO DO IT Load the hack squat machine with the appropriate weight and perform 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Feel the contraction of the quads and be aware of the mind-muscle connection.

To test this workout for yourself, do all of the above in one session.

As a self-confessed fitness fan and someone who can build leg muscles with relative ease (unlike arms, which no matter how much I work them out, never grow), I wanted to try Platz's legendary leg workout. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but nothing good in life comes without a challenge.

Not even five minutes into Tom's infamous leg workout, I immediately felt the demands on my leg muscles. The combination of high weight and high repetitions pushed my limits, as expected, and I felt the burn with each set. The squats in particular were quite a humbling experience as I struggled to maintain proper form under the heavy loads.

As the workout progressed, I felt fatigue setting in. Leg presses and hack squats increased the fire in my quads, and leg extensions provided targeted, isolated contractions.

The overall volume of the workout was demanding to say the least, especially towards the end, where we had to push ourselves mentally and physically to complete each set. He made sure to only complete the last rep of each set to get the most out of it.

It goes without saying that the Platz workout was without a doubt the most challenging leg workout I have ever done. When I go to the gym, I never focus solely on my legs. Legs are probably the most densely muscled area of my body, so on leg workout days I would always mix it up with another opposing area, such as my shoulders. The intensity and concentration required for the exercises left me feeling completely done, but I felt quite satisfied when I completed them. The same cannot be said, however, about the DOMS that followed over the next few days...

. Would you do it again?

Tom Platz's leg workout provided an intense experience and proved effective, especially with regard to post-gym pumps, but I would approach it with caution. High volume, heavy weights require a fairly high fitness level and overall leg strength.

The key here is to listen to your body and recognize the importance of balanced training.

However, if you insist on doing it, I recommend starting slowly and gradually increasing the intensity while ensuring adequate rest and recovery to avoid overtraining and possible injury.

Remember that leg muscles take time to repair and grow, so daily workouts are not recommended. Incorporating Tom Platz's leg workout principles into your daily routine is certainly beneficial, but should definitely be done in moderation.