I have said it many times and still stand behind it.If you train
your clients with machines you are either lazy or just dont know
any better.
Lets clarify what I am talking about here I'm talking about fixed
movement machines such as cam based machines, smith machines,
hammer strength type machines, etc. This does not include cable
machines as these provide variation in movement.
Now lets get back to my statement. This may upset some people but
this could be partly because they know its true. Now after reading
this article you will not be able to use the latter as an excuse
and all you will be left with is the lazy excuse which does not
hold much water.
Machines provide an unnatural environment to train and can actually
increase the risk of injuries. Take the back extension machine for
example a common machine found in most gyms. This machine exerts
compressive forces on the spinal discs to such a level that
research has shown that there is a substantial risk of disc
herniation. Every time walk in to the gym I see people performing
this insane exercise, often prescribed by their personal
training.
Some make the excuse that a beginner needs to start with machines
as they do not have the coordination or stabilization to train with
free movement but how are machines going to help? In-fact training
a novice on machines may even take them even further from
function
You have to stop thinking of training muscle but rather training
movements. For too long the fitness industry has been prescribing
exercise programs based on bodybuilding. Forget these isolated
movements being performed on machines trying to create overload on
individual muscles in the hope that this will help produce
hypertrophy. Things are not as they seem; hypertrophy is a little
more complex than just creating a metabolic overload on an
individual muscle however many of the machine manufactures would
like you to believe this.
Written by:
Peter Rouse(OPT)
Strength & Conditioning Specialist