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Most gyms are full of so many different pieces of equipment, but you probably only use a couple of them. You’d like to think that, if they’re in a gym, they’re safe to work out on, and give you good results. Unfortunately that isn’t always the case. There’s a lot of machines out there that are rubbish for building muscle, and a few that are downright dangerous to use. Here’s a list of machines that you should avoid at all costs.

 

Free Weights Over Machines

As a general rule, most strength training machines are simply offering the same exercise that you could do with free weights. The machines are popular because people think that the rigid bars help you to keep form better, but the opposite is true. Most people have a dominant hand, or arm. On a weight machine, your stronger arm will take the bulk of the weight, without you realising, so you could end up with an uneven workout. If you are using free weights, you will be able to tell if one arm is falling behind, and make a conscious effort to keep them level. In some cases, machines can be useful. For example, if you are returning to the gym after an injury, they can offer a bit of extra support while you build your strength.

If you are going to use machines, these are the ones you should definitely avoid.

 

Cross Trainer

A cross trainer has the same issue that a lot of the weight machines have. It lets you slack off. Once you get going, the motion of the machine, and your arms, can just pull your legs along. This way, you won’t be getting a good workout because you’ll be relying on the machine to do most of the hard work. It is much better to use a treadmill, as you will only be relying on yourself to stay moving. Visit BestCardioGear.com for more information on using a treadmill.

 

The Crunch Machine

Crunches are one of the simplest exercises, that you can do absolutely anywhere, so having a machine for them seems pointless in the first place. If you’ve ever tried using one, you’ll know that all you get out of it is severe lower back pain, which could lead to lasting damage if you’re using this machine regularly.

 

Shoulder Press Machine

A shoulder press machine is one of the worst offenders when it comes to unequal workout. You can pull the entire weight on one arm, leaving the other doing absolutely nothing. If you do want to use a machine for these kinds of exercises, use one with a wire rather than a bar. That way, you will still be able to tell if you’re arms aren’t even.

 

Leg Extension Machine

This one can really play havoc with your knees if you don’t use it properly. Some of them are actually ok, but the problem is that people use it incorrectly most of the time. Locking out your knees with every extension can really cause you some trouble, so make sure you use it properly, always keeping your knees slightly bent. You should also avoid the ones with the inclined seat, there is no good way to use them.

Chiino
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