is it bad to squat on a smith machine

Ive been doing the New Rules of Lifting for women and using the Smith machine for squats. Although its main benefit is that you can stop the bar.

Smith Machine Squat Video Exercise Guide Tips

I do not advocate smith squats because they force your body into an unnatural position.

. Avoid any exercise on the Smith machine especially squats bench presses and deadlifts. I knew a guy who basically shear his patella tendon doing. Its pretty dangerous sheer forces on your knees awkward positioning false sense of security lower back issues single plane of motion.

As far as a. First the Smith Machine isnt a great way to do squats. Smith machine squats are only bad if you try to do them like you would a free weight squat.

Whilst Smith machine squats can increase the risk of knee injuries thats not to do with position or technique. Its not inherently bad to squat in a Smith machine. This is because it puts too much pressure on your joints particularly your knees.

First and foremost a mistake that a lot of people do is that they perform a smith machine squat just like a normal squat. Now this does likely warrant further investigation but this suggests that for some exercises lifters are able to move more weight on the smith machine. At a glance this sounds like the smith machine are bad but they actually have their place in gyms across the globe because the fixed bar path and easy racking mechanisms.

The only way to squat safely on a Smith is with your feet forward then it becomes a viable and actually a very good quad exercise kinda like wall squats on steroids. But when used for squats or deadlifts the smith machine can often encourage this rounding or arching depending on a lifters build foot positioning etc. The Smith machine a metal rack with a bar that travels along a fixed path is used by beginner lifters and bodybuilders alike for squats and bench press variations.

The quadriceps front thighs and glutes are the prime movers and hamstrings are assisting. All while the spine is under load. Im pretty much a beginner.

There are far too many alternative quad and ham exercises to make Smith squatting a. Increase the weight after each set of lunges as youll be supersetting the lunges with Smith machine squats. Why Smith machines are bad.

However if you asked. The Smith machine squat works all the same muscles as the barbell squat. The bottom of a Smith squat would require you to push your ass out and roll your chest down.

Apparently there is a lot of anti-smith-machine sentiment out there. As described your feet need to be forward and try to. Smith machine squats are useful if you want to target the quadriceps more but to make the movement effective you have to know how to squat with a free weight too.

Throw a 45-pound plate on top of. Is it bad to squat on a Smith machine. Smith Machines like any weight training equipment or exercise when done improperly will lead to muscle imbalances.

The more weight you use the higher the risk of. The Smith machine squat. Instead its to do with reduced muscle activation leading to less.

If you are serious about strength and strength sports you should either avoid it or use it sparingly if you are trying to. Its possible to use slightly more weight on a Smith machine than on a free weight squat so many people are tempted to slap on more plates.

Barbell Squats Vs Smith Machine Squats Lift Big Eat Big