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 IF MUSCLE GROWTH IS BASED ON OVERLOAD, THEN WHY.....
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| Author | Topic: IF MUSCLE GROWTH IS BASED ON OVERLOAD, THEN WHY..... | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder 
Posts: 929 |
...Is the Smith Machine, and others like it, not deemded to be more useful then freeweights? Now, I understand that with freeweights you utilize the stabilizer muscles more, which protects you from injury in the long run, but if I can do military presses (not my real weight) with 100 lbs. freeweight, but I can do 150 lbs. on the smith, wouldn't my shoulders grow larger using the smith machine? Or am I missing something? Wouldn't a combination of freeweights and machines be the best way to go? That way you get stabilizer work plus max overload?     | ||
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Cool Novice 
Posts: 13 |
i would agree with using the smith machine. i personally do squats, incline bench presses and shoulder presses with the smith machine. your form is way better with a smith machine because it doesnt allow you to cheat, hence, not allowing the "stabilizer" muscles to come into play. my advice: stick with the smith machine. your form stays perfect and will allow you to build a more balanced physique. THE EXTREME | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder 
Posts: 85 |
The way I look at it is that its muscle overload in each distinct exercise. I consider the smith and free to be totally different exercises. I think the smith has its place, especially if one is prone to injury, but I look at historic results and I've got to say that for mass, the frees are better. Its not just a simple question of being able to handle more weight, its how difficult that weight, in that particular exercise, is to handle. Just my opinion. | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder 
Posts: 401 |
The fact is that the more muscle fibers you breakdown/stimulate in a training session the more effective the exercise. Compound movements in the form of free weights conform to this catagory better than smith machine exercises. The reason for this is as you stated before stablizer muscle work. I will assume you will agree that when doing larger more agressive movements yield more total body gains....squats vs leg ext & curl. This theory applies here too. Although you are able to handle more weight on the smith machine, are you really working with more weight? The fact that you no longer have to balance the weight and control the weight you have really in essence made your exercise easier...therefore the need for more weight. So, even though you have lift more weight on the smith, your technically not working as much as a lighter free weight lift. A patient of mine, we will call him Joe, came into my clinic after a back injury and I proceeded to ask what happened. He was an religious lifter with a great build and a stronger than the average. He proceeded to say the "it was the funniest thing. I was getting a box down from out of the closet overhead. The box didn't weight 50-60lbs but I couldn't control it. It feel as I fought to break its fall." To make a long story short...we tested him and found a amazing lack of muscle stabilization. Both upper body and lower body muscle groups were strong but very uncordinated(sp). Turns out he was a machine man too. We put him on light free weight stabilization exercises that stessed balance and control. We see this often. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 143 |
Ya free weight is the way to go. the smith machine i look at it as a cruch, it helps u with form. but free weights i find build muscle a ton better. like for example the smith machine is like a bike with training wheeles, as soon as u take them off, is when u start getting good results. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 814 |
Machines have their place, but your walking around the gym stepping on your tampon string if you make them the core element in your training regimin. ------------------  | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 979 |
LOL!!! | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 143 |
hahah very well put twisted. | ||
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Cool Novice
Posts: 27 |
i think that squating on the smith machine is the worst way to squat... | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 271 |
If you're gonna squat on a smith machine, you're better off leg pressing... ------------------ | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 553 |
Somebody ought to tell Dorian that smith machine squats suck.
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Cool Novice
Posts: 47 |
I disagree somewhat. Squatting on a Smith machine feels WAY more like squatting than leg presses...I like em 'cause just like with leg presses, you can just close your eyes and shove. Heavy free squats require too much (in my opinion) concentration to stay in form which reduces intensity. I may give free squats another shot soon, though. It's been six months since I pulled em from my routine. zb | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 929 |
Pump'n Iron: Excellent explanation my friend. Just what I was looking for, thanks. |
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posted September 02, 2000 03:42 PM
