Chick, would you agree with something that I've realized over the last decade of training...that;
Most exercises are no better than others so long as they target the same muscle area, but the one that fits your body type/training style will be the 'best' one to use?
I haven't touched barbells for biceps in years...just dumbells, yet my arms are a good size. Ditto with triceps; no skullcrushers here, as they aggrevate my elbows...but dumbell extensions get the job done pain free (in the joints, that is).
As far as squats go, I've tried to do leg presses exclusively but sometimes I prefer the extra benefits of squats as they target more of the body (lower back especially)...that said, do I think squats build better QUADS than leg presses? I don't think they do, for me anyway.
Again...I've found through trial and error that the 'best' exercise for any given body part is the one that allows you to: train the target area with the required intensity, fit your body type/training style so as not to cause excessive joint pain.
The only injury I've had was the result of too much weight doing two-bench dips...an exercise that, before the injury, was a great way to finish a triceps workout. Unfortunately, not anymore. That's probably the hardest lesson to learn...how far to go without going too far. That day, even though I was capable of lifting the weight, I was too lean to push my joints that far. I'm not sure that I could have seen the injury coming; but I now have a better idea how to prevent it happening again. If you're precontest lean, DON'T go stupid heavy...even if you can, it may affect you in the long run.
