Group: Beginners to Exercise

Created: 2012/01/01, Members: 970, Messages: 18927

Share and offer advice to beginners to the fitness world!

Join group

bowflex , or weight stack,home gyms?

dovesart
dovesart
Posts: 7
Joined: 2004/06/03
United States
2004/06/25, 01:34 PM
I have free weights ,but having some trouble with my back , thanks to a drunk driving teen , hitting me 20 years ago. was wondering if either of these home gyms would be easier on my back , and if so , what is your opinion , ,which is better? I dont really have access to a regular place, would rather do it at home.Thanks for any help. Rick

--------------
Paint your bridges , instead of burning them. others may want landmarks , to follow in your footsteps
fsdsk
fsdsk
Posts: 959
Joined: 2003/11/30
United States
2004/06/25, 03:56 PM
I use a Crossbow by Weider and have good luck with it.

--------------
There is no substitute for hard work
aaronmp2003
aaronmp2003
Posts: 65
Joined: 2003/02/22
United States
2004/07/05, 03:58 PM
Dovesart,

There is no hard and fast answer as to whether to use free weights or machines, but there are some great reasons for both. Specific to you, if you have any back issues, I would actually recommend free weights INSTEAD of a machine, but only if you have the proper exercises and intensity set up for you, or else you risk injury. For more info on free weights vs. machines, check out this article that I wrote:

http://www.aaronspersonaltraining.com/article_free_weights_vs_machines.html

--------------
Aaron M. Potts
Aarons Personal Training
http://www.aaronspersonaltraining.com
http://www.issacertifications.com
Sign Up For Our Free Fitness Newsletter!
neiltilley
neiltilley
Posts: 325
Joined: 2003/03/09
United Kingdom
2004/07/08, 04:49 AM
with a bad back(which bit is bad?)... how about some money and time on physio? it is fantastic and it isn't as much as you'd think! or just a good massage or three?

with free weights i find the following is true for my lower back pain;
1)dumbell chest press- feet up on bench knees bent reduces stress on lower back.
2)shoulder press- thinking properly about position sitting with ars well pouted and pronounced arch to the back(i'm nearly 40 and have aged posture to correct- physio said)
3)squats- no not me, swiss ball and dumbells rolling up and down against a wall, less pressure and helps force core stability with legs quite wide and well away from wall so my back really leans into the ball.
4)sit ups and crunches- physio said for the pain felt and my aged posture issue, tilt my hips up slightly to the sky and crunch just a few inches up barely moving- the pressure is off the back and i feel a panel straight down the front(my abs)is burning after a few as it's just my abs that are pushing and pulling??!!! I was surprised how so little felt so much on my abs like this as i normally crunch machine with 3-4 sets of 12 with 75kilos.
5)waiting for a bus- consciously pout my ars out at a tilted hip stance with an enforced arch that's a bit unnatural... hey so i look stupid but after some weeks i can see the pert butt position of a teenager behind me- after all my stance was weak, sloppy, belly out butt in with a flat hip line- honestly retrain how you stand and walk see a phsio therapist... the result can be amazing..

Anyway once you've read this and Aarons site then you might put into practice some features that will help you, even if only to make you more comfortable with it. Or honestly see a physio.. al the best