Smith Machine Exercise Equipment Does Serve A Purpose But Is Smith Machine Exercise Equipment An Effective Weight Lifting Machine?
Smith machine exercise equipment is used very extensively by a lot of people in most gyms. But should smith machine exercise equipment even be used at all?
Well for the most part we wouldn't include an exercise with this type of weight lifting machine when designing a fitness program for a client. Even when designing a fitness center for a client, weight lifting machines like this would not be our first choice.
Most people use weight lifting machines like this because they give a sense of using free weights, even though it's not even close to having the same effect.
Smith machine exercise equipment does have the added safety feature of a built in spotter so you can actually push yourself more than you would with some free weight exercises.
One of the reasons that weight lifting machines such as this have become so popular in recent years is that it's easy to use, another reason is that it looks good. That's right, but just because a piece of exercise equipment looks good and is easy to use doesn't mean it will give you the best results.
Some aspects of these machines that many think are positives are actually negatives.
With these machines the weight is stabilized for you, a positive factor, right?
Well not exactly. You see your shoulder operates in three planes, but when using smith machine equipment none of your shoulder stabilizers need to be recruited properly.
This creates a problem if you aren't also using free weights during your exercise sessions. If you concentrate solely on using this type of weight lifting machine for most of your exercises you can actually predispose yourself to injury.
Too many people get a pattern overload from using smith machine equipment too often.
It's fine to use smith machine equipment as a supplement to your exercises but make sure your don't use it for everything.
This type of exercise equipment can come in basic forms that resemble a power rack with a fixed bar or a more complete system that includes many different attachments to resemble a home gym.
If you're going to invest in any type of weight lifting machines for home use I would suggest getting the higher quality one. They are usually much stronger and have a much better warranty.
Machines like this can provide you with dozens of muscle building exercises such as squats, bench presses, rows, shrugs and many more that you can do in a very safe, controlled manner.
Weight lifting machines like
smith machine exercise equipment & other fitness equipment
you use are only part of the puzzle. You need to be able to effectively use smith machine equipment and other exercise equipment along with nutrition and motivation properly and consistently in order to reach your goals.
Do you currently, or have you ever, used the type of exercise equipment mentioned on this page? What has been your experience with this type of equipment? What exercise equipment do you like the best or like the least? Tell us why you feel this way.
Or do you have some good information that we may have missed? Share your story and let others know what equipment to avoid or to invest in!