Five gym machines that are a waste of time
JOHANNEBSURG - Exercise specialist at Fitnatics, Jake Batat, reveals there are five machines at gym that you're wasting your time with.
Though a full workout at the gym along with a balanced diet can do wonders for your health, exercise specialist at Fitnatics, Jake Batat, said there were a few machines at the gym that could be seen as a waste of time.
Here are the five machines you shouldn’t waste your time with:
- Adductor/Abductor machine
The primary purpose of these machines is to work the inner and outer thigh in isolation. Batat said, “The adductors and abductors are meant to work in co-ordination with the rest of the body, stabilising the legs. These machines lack effectiveness in working those muscle groups.”
He recommends using free weights for the thigh muscles for a more natural and effective workout due to the fact that these machines can put undue pressure on the spine.
- Smith machine
This machine can be used for chest, biceps and legs but due to the machine’s alignment, with a bar that is attached to a vertical sliding track, it doesn’t allow for natural movement. Batat said the workout becomes linear and is based on a more arched movement resulting in stressing the knees, lower back and shoulders.
- Seated rotation machine
Though this machine is meant to train abdominal and oblique muscles, Batat said the machine placed excessive twisting forces on the delicate spine as the pelvis did not move without the chest.
- Seated shoulder press machine
The shoulder press is usually used to train the shoulders and triceps but Batat said, “In actual fact, what really happens is because of overhead pressing, it puts the shoulder joints in vulnerable biomechanical angles and positions. Undue stress is placed on the shoulders and doesn’t allow you to use your hips to assist the shoulders, which, in fact, is the natural way to lift something overhead.”
- Seated leg extension machine
The seated leg extension machine is usually used to train the quadriceps but places an excessive amount of stress on the ligaments and tendons surrounding the kneecaps by forcing the body to do movements that legs are not designed to do.
Batat advises to rather focus on free movement and compound exercises that work multi-muscle groups instead of isolating one. They are much more beneficial, effective, natural and safer for your body and health, he said.
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