why does the smith machine hurt my back

One of the main downsides of the smith machine is that it forces you to perform all exercises in a super straight line. Ever since many recreational bodybuilders have been trying to do the same.

What Is The Smith Machine And Why Does Everyone Hate It The Home Gym

Without activation of small stabilizer muscles that barbell training effectively stimulates they in turn become underdeveloped.

. The next day he was crossing the street and got hit by a bus. The Smith Machine The Smith Machine is widely understood -- but its also pretty useless. In fact it was originally introduced to the world by none other than Jack LaLanne back in the early 1950s.

He said free weights were too dangerous. Answer 1 of 12. Squats of any type whether with free weights or on a Smith machine can be dangerous if theyre performed incorrectly.

An under developed muscle can lead to imbalances and can eventually cause injury once an individual switches from using the smith machine to barbell exercises. Here are several simple things you can do to help prevent or eliminate shoulder pain from barbell squats. I try to get to the real gym for legs so I can use the rack but because they are open for limited hours and I have a full time job I occasionally get stuck at PF for a leg day.

If I dont do this then I have the same issues as you with the back pain. Squating on a smith machine is different than free squating. Another reason the Smith Machine sucks is because it does nothing to strengthen smaller stabilizing muscles.

The reason is this piece only allows movement in a fixed plane of motion. The smith machine in my book is the worst place to do squats due to the weird and unnatural angle and way the bar moves up and down. This is fairly common for lifters who place the barbell too high on their back.

In the smith machine I find I have to lean back slightly into the bar ie. Working out since 2011. Anyway I use the Smith machine for squats since I dont like to do barbell squats without a spotter and I pretty much work out alone most of the time.

If you get stuck you need to quickly rotate the bar back in position which may not always be feasible so a spotter is advised for all exercises. It turns out that the smith machine is a relatively new piece of equipment at least when compared to timeless staples like the barbel and dumbbell. You are placing too much stress on your lower back which can lead to potential injuries.

Because contrary to what rfitness says using a smith machine wont leave you handicapped 999 of the time. Now hes in a wheelchair. So keep using the machine to get your large muscles.

Shoulder pain while barbell squatting is a common problem in people with shoulder pathology says Joseph Ciccone DPT CSCS a doctor of physical therapy and certified strength and conditioning coach with ColumbiaDoctors in New York NY. The smith machine is not the best place to do squats. Some people with a history of low back injury myself included find that incidence of low back pain is much lower when squatting on the Smith machine compared to with free weights.

Maybe your knees hurt because your using a machine that forces you to move in a way that your body wasnt designed to move placing unnecessary extra strain at the knee joint. The pain always goes away within a couple of. ONLINE PERSONAL TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE.

The smith machine is not the best place to do squats. Hooks hold the bar in place and you must slightly elevate then rotate the bar to release it. I have two gym memberships Planet Fitness and an upper end gym with a squat rack.

My feet will be a couple of inches in front of the bar. I knew a guy that used a Smith machine. The first time I injured myself using the machine a steroid injection in my lower back relieved the pain but I never fully regained my range of motion flexibility a full year later.

The shoulder press is a structural exercise meaning it places stress on your spine because you maintain an erect position with your torso as you perform it. For example you dont do squats like this in a Smith Machine. Because an Olympic bar is attatched to the machine does not make this a free weight piece.

The smith machine in my book is the worst place to do squats due to the weird and unnatural angle and way the bar moves up and down. Smith machine forces your body into an unnatural straight vertical movement. Incorrect form and other factors can cause back pain when you do shoulder presses.

My biggest problem with the Smith Machine is that people are convinced they are still doing free weight movements when they perform exercises on the Smith Machine. The truth is that any exercise can cause an injury if you fail to use strict form. The Smith machine is a machine that forces the bar into a vertical path so you do not have to control it.

Because of how the weight is locked in place and only slides up and down youre. Why are Smith machine squats HARDER for me than free bar back squats. First lets take a step back and look at what the smith machine actually is.

Shoulder presses are considered an effective exercise when it comes to improving shoulder strength and size. Ive noticed the lower lumbar area of my back killing me after about 2 sets which pretty much ruins the rest of my leg workout. The most common free-weight mistake people make is leaning their upper body.

This is not natural. Thats why people often experience back neck and knee pain when training on the smith. Smith machine like all other machines balances the weight for you and thus takes your stabilizer muscles out.

Since this movement is unnatural for your body it will end up stressing your joints and back especially if you are doing heavy weights which is what you were doing when you hurt your neck. Stupid me - I resumed using the leg press 3 months ago trying to get back to my regular workout routine and within 1 week the pain came back with a vengeance.

Smith Machine Squats Correct Form Benefits Debate Set For Set