If you have back issues or joint problems the smith machine may be able to help you perform certain moves safely.
Is the smith machine bad for you.
Pretty much everything else should not be done on the smith machine other than exercises that use just the bar of the smith machine as apparatus where the bar never moves like a chin up for example.
The smith machine was created by a man named rudy smith back in the 1950s.
Please let me elaborate before you stop reading.
Keep a close eye on your form.
Oddly enough it is still one of the most popular machines.
Admittedly it can make for dangerous and unnatural squatting and pressing but with just a few tweaks it can also be an excellent hypertrophy tool while providing a nice change of pace from the usual routine.
The smith machine is about the most misunderstood piece of gym equipment.
But if you are in a situation where you could need a spotter and don t have one then use the smith machine.
You will never go into a gym that does not have at least one smith machine.
Yeah it s just that simple.
This may sound like an extreme comment to make considering almost every gym and even some rehabilitation facilities now have them for their people to use.
If you were lucky enough to own barbarian smith cable rack or barbarian monster you can jump to cable crossover straight away and do some chest flys.
As you can see in this picture there is nothing natural about a smith machine squat.
The smith machine has been one of the most criticized pieces of equipment in the gym for the past 7 or 8 decades.
The safety teeth on the smith machine and ease of locking the barbell could literally save your life in some scenarios.
What exercises are bad on the smith machine.
The smith machine will build muscle imbalances which will make you more likely to get injured when you re doing any sort of physical activity.
The smith machine has been one of the biggest mistakes in strength training equipment in my opinion.
It is a teacher of poor form for any exercise.
Taking a free weight barbell and turning it into a crappy machine designed originally for uppe.
But beware that the smith machine can add unwanted stresses to your joints if you aren t careful.
If i am being completely honest this isn t even the worst squat i have seen on a smith machine but there is.