Smith Machine

**Scrapper** · Posted On: 7/14/2007 9:13am

I use the smith machine for my military presses. I have a chronic shoulder injury, and that is the only way I can do them for more than a couple of weeks without pain. It's kinda weird, but meh.

I don't hate the smith machine, but I wouldn't use it if I didn't need to.

**spirez** · Posted On: 7/14/2007 9:14am

What's the injury? Overhead presses put quite a lot of stress on the shoulders, which can mean big problems later on if already injured. Is it a rotator cuff issue?

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 7/14/2007 9:37am

It's hard to find scientific studies saying the Smith machine sucks, but there are some that say that other weight modalities are better.

For instance:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...ubmed_RVDocSum

Can J Appl Physiol. 2005 Feb;30(1):33-45.

Anderson K, Behm DG.

School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7.

The objective of this study was to determine differences in electromyographic (EMG) activity of the soleus (SOL), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), abdominal stabilizers (AS), upper lumbar erector spinae (ULES), and lumbo-sacral erector spinae (LSES) muscles while performing squats of varied stability and resistance. Stability was altered by doing the squat movement on a Smith machine, a free squat, and while standing on two balance discs. Fourteen male subjects performed the movements. Activities of the SOL, AS, ULES, and LSES were highest during the unstable squat and lowest with the Smith machine protocol (p < 0.05). Increased EMG activity of these muscles may be attributed to their postural and stabilization role. Furthermore, EMG activity was higher during concentric contractions compared to eccentric contractions. Performing squats on unstable surfaces may permit a training adaptation of the trunk muscles responsible for supporting the spinal column (i.e., erector spinae) as well as the muscles most responsible for maintaining posture (i.e., SOL).

**Scrapper** · Posted On: 7/14/2007 10:05am

Originally Posted by spirez

What's the injury? Overhead presses put quite a lot of stress on the shoulders, which can mean big problems later on if already injured. Is it a rotator cuff issue?

Rotator cuff tendinitis and scar tissue from a tear. Doc says It's fine as long as I stop when it starts hurting.

**spirez** · Posted On: 7/14/2007 2:11pm

When did it happen? I had a similar injury and went to see a Sports massage therapist, did me the world of good as they re-mould the scar tissue to some degree

**Scrapper** · Posted On: 7/14/2007 3:32pm

4 years ago or so. The joint works fine, but if I go too heavy for too long, or stress the stabilizers, it flares up bad and the arm ends up useless for a month or two.

I don't believe in massage. It feels ok, but no one has really shown that it does much more than that. (But that is another thread entirely...)