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Smith Fitness Machine – An Overview
If you are looking for a weight lifting machine that is effective and allows you the versatility to perform different exercise routines, you can use a Smith fitness machine. Smith machines consist of a barbell mounted within steel rails that allow for vertical movement with weight racks at the base for stability. Modern designs now allow forward and backward movements.
There are also Smith fitness machines with counterbalanced barbells.
Advantages
A Smith machine is built in such a way that the one using it no longer needs a spotter. The barbell does not need to be re-racked each time you finish a repetition; you can secure it in the vertical posts, also called runners, at any point. For instance, if during a barbell workout you can bear the weight no longer, all you need to do is secure the barbell in place with a simple twist of the wrist. Some models use pegs, blocks, and other locking devices to stop the barbell.
Another major benefit of using a Smith fitness machine is that it allows for a wide array of exercise routines not offered by most weight lifting machines. With an adjustable bench, you can anyone can do bodybuilding workouts including bench press, incline bench press, decline bench press, behind-the-neck press, military press, dead lifts, and squats. Used in conjunction with a flat bench, you can even do bench push-ups and dips with a Smith fitness machine.
Debate
Throughout the entire range of the exercise you are performing, motion is stabilized because of the Smith machine’s construction, guaranteeing your safety. However, fitness experts have been pointing out that exercising using a Smith machine alone will not yield the same results as when you exercise using free weights like dumbbells and barbells. The muscles will be developed but not in the same level as when you use free weights.
Of course, any decent body building program will not solely require exercise using machines or free weights only. A well-rounded workout can include elements from both. Feel free to talk to a fitness instructor about your goals and he will help you come up with a program customized only for your specific needs. Expect alterations in the program as you go along because full development of the body can better be achieved with a variety of exercising targeting specific muscle groups.
Conclusion
A Smith fitness machine may or may not be ideal for your goals but it is still widely used by many, especially people who do not have all the time in the world to sign up and attend gym sessions. A Smith machine makes a good addition if you are planning to set up your own personal gym at home. There are designs small enough to fit reasonable amounts of space, available in a wide range of prices.
Some Smith fitness machine brands you might want to look at include Yukon, FreeMotion, EF, Caribou, Marcy Round, Power Systems, BodyCraft, Multisports, Powerline, and BodySolid. You may avail of a functional and durable machine for USD 400 and up.