I’m assuming by your comment that he would be pointing to every muscle that crosses the ankle, knee, hip, back, shoulder elbow and wrist?
No, by my comment, I meant that “stabilizer” muscles are a myth. They are the Loch Ness Monster of training.
Am I missing something here? Are you saying that there aren’t any muscles that are engaged during exercise to stablize joints?
Muscles do not stabilize. They contract or remain at rest.
It’s not that simple. They can contract isometrically to stablize a joint. I know where you are going with this argument, but it’s a weak argument.
ALL muscles are stabilizer muscles. As long as you include a good variety of exercises in your regimen and workout in good form, your joints will become more stabile. Tell all the Dogg Crapp monsters that they have weak stabilizer muscles.[/quote]
Valid point simon-hecubus, however, some muscles have a greater moment arm about a joint axis than others which would predispose them to creating torque, whereas other muscles with less of a moment arm about a joint axis are more predisposed towards dynamic stabilisation (i.e. rotator cuff muscles, deep paravertebral muscles.)
Often joints will be involved in actions which will benefit from stabilisation without resultant torque, therefore the stabilisation is more efficient when using those muscles with less of a moment arm.
[quote]ThisIsMyRifle wrote:
I know that free weights are better due to the fact it recruits stabilizers and other muscles…Is it ok to use hammer strength machines to replace free weight exercises. It seems to be easier on my joints( shoulders and lower back)…Any suggestions?[/quote]
machines are okay for variety but they force you to lift in one plane of motion and in my opinion limits your growth. But they are better than not training at all. If you are having joint problems then your problem is most likely form not the free weights themselves. If you are looking to get stronger and bigger then you will need to train multi joint exercises such as deadlifts, squats, bench press, overhead presses. these movements are done with free weights. get with someone to show you proper form on the basics listed above. I bet your lower back and joint problems will be corrected.
Put down the bazooka. The black helicopters ae not coming for you. Well, not today at least.
[/quote]
LOL. My brother flies one of those black helicopters - and I doubt they are coming for anyone unless your last name is Bin Laden.
Machines have helped me maintain strength while transitioning from the final stages of injury healing.
But, I do tend to only use the HS machines. The only thing I use with a pin is maybe for tricep pull downs for seated rows. Does that mean I’m a fag… Oh no… God help me… My voice is rasing 1/2 octave every workout on the HS machines!!!
[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
ThisIsMyRifle wrote:
I know that free weights are better due to the fact it recruits stabilizers and other muscles…Is it ok to use hammer strength machines to replace free weight exercises. It seems to be easier on my joints( shoulders and lower back)…Any suggestions?
You know your body best. Listen to it, not a bunch of douchebags on a forum who claim to lift weights yet haven’t gained any weight in 5 years.
[quote]harris447 wrote:
So…pretty much everyone who hasn’t moved his family to a heavily-armed, blast-resistant compound in the part of Texas the Chainsaw Massacre happened in, right?
RJ…I got a futon, babe. C’mon up: we’ll listen to Springsten records and hit on Italian chicks and there are gyms–GYMS, sir!–as far as the eye can see!
Put down the bazooka. The black helicopters ae not coming for you. Well, not today at least.
Besides, don’t you want to be somewhere that has a decent football team?
(OK, that one was a low blow and I apologize. Kinda.)[/quote]
How’d I miss this?
I’m an old man - a futon is just another word for back ache.
But I would love to see some hot Jersey chicks in real life - if there is a way to keep them from talking. But I don’t know if I have enough gold nacklaces to attract them. Maybe I could borrow some of your guido-wear, huh?
Anyhow - I would love have some HS stuff in my gym. That would allow me to push myself harder without fear of dropping, or getting trapped under a bar (I train alone - no spotter)
Getting a gym membership is a pipe dream, as I live over 100 miles from a gym that I would give my money to.
"RJ…I got a futon, babe. C’mon up: we’ll listen to Springsten records and hit on Italian chicks and there are gyms–GYMS, sir!–as far as the eye can see!
Put down the bazooka. The black helicopters ae not coming for you. Well, not today at least."
Machines are good for me after I have beaten down my stabilizers with free weights and still want to get a good finishing pump with more weight than I’d be able to use otherwise. I’d bet a lot of people are also using them this way.