I hear ya, but I fired him a long time ago.

I knew absolutely less than nothing about working out, so he gave me a good foundation. I spend most of my time on free weights now, the chest/back machines, and triceps pull down. But I will make sure I don't do any of these 6 in the future. The three leg exercises was still in my off day leg program.

It has been a real good thing, except for a couple injuries I have incurred.

So what about them bowflex machines? Are those bad for ya?

Do they work ok for old people if they use less weight?

You want real information about about injuries in the gym I'll give it to you. Far and away the most injuries take place using a barbell on the bench. From kids roided out lifting too much to guys in their early 30's who have already worn out their shoulders. We used to have a saying, use barbells, lift today. Use dumbbells lift a lifetime. After 30 years of lifting I can assure you that you can eventually wear out those shoulders anyway but that's probably 1% of 1% of all people that lift. 2nd most injuries come from the squat rack. From improper lifting to the dipshit that steps out of the cage without a spotter this easily is the runner up.

BTW, I have never seen anyone sustain an injury on leg extensions, machine leg press, roman chair or hip abductor for that matter.

This.

The only thing I use a Smith Machine for is this:

That’s exactly how people injure themselves on leg press machines like that.
When I was in the Army I knew a 120# female that leg pressed 600# and didn’t know it at the time but separated a couple of ribs from her spine doing it. That injury took her out for a while.

Edit: to clarify, she was using a leg press more like this than the one in #4.

http://bodybuildingequipment.ericsgy...zoom/index.htm

What is the term for a Smith machine that actually allows horizontal range of motion as well? My gym has a smith machine, but it also has a machine where the bar can move on axes both horizontal and perpendicular to the floor.

I got one on the hip abductor, it hurt like hell for several weeks. Using too much weight, and I pulled something.

The other injury was from doing too much weight on the curls. Pulled both elbow tendons, and that is probably going to take surgery, by the time we are done. We are on the third steriod shot now.

I'm not scared... I use it because of its ease of use and safety -- as I normally workout alone.

And i've had great results from sitting Lat pulldowns (pull down to chest though, not back of neck).. I usually alternate this exercise with dips.

and this

Form is important. Machines take that away from you, so that it's more difficult to sustain a sudden injury. Machines generally injure you over time, which is why you don't see someone just ****ing themselves up in one sitting.

No. Do the exercises. I'm guessing they are having you use very light weight at high reps to rehab, right? The problems with these machines generally appear with higher weight. So, do your rehab, but I wouldn't make a habit out of incorporating them into your workout for a lifetime using heavier weight.

It's that whole locked in thing. Free weights are better from a variety of standpoints.

Why would you lift heavy on an abductor?

How do you find the right weight? I have seen guys hang additional weights off of the peg, beyond the 220 lb. capacity of the machine. I am only talking about 140 being too much for my old carcus. 100 is just right.

Mostly, all machines do is take up space that could be better put to use with more benches and dumbbells. I think what they're saying about leg extensions is a crock though. Extending the leg isn't a natural motion? BS.