3 ms·

I can only recommened the opposite: if you are doing strength training by all means use mostly barbells and stick to the big 3 (some sort of press, a squat and

by tP5n 11y ago

I can only recommened the opposite: if you are doing strength training by all means use mostly barbells and stick to the big 3 (some sort of press, a squat and a deadlift variations). I hurt my back, shoulder and knees doing various machines and dumbbell variations over the last 15 years, the fear in regards to lifting heavy with barbells usually stems from horrible technique, most people do not realize that lifting is a sport that needs to be learned, it's not enough to just "push the weight".

tormeh 11y ago
How did you hurt yourself on machines/dumbbells? Not rhetorical - I would like to avoid doing the same mistakes. And yes, I do have horrible technique. And since I don't have a personal trainer, no one is ever going to tell me when my technique slips, so I'd rather not rely on it.
- tP5n 11y ago
  Mostly by overstretching particular joints under load, eg. behind the neck presses and pulldowns & pushing myself on dumbbell presses with weights I could move but barely control, at one point I lost control but did not drop the weights. The others where loading up machines with weights I could not have moved if it weren't for the fixed movement plane of the machine, that ultimately meant trouble for my lower back (leg press) and grinding in my knees (leg extensions).
- tP5n 11y ago
  btw, most personal trainers are horrible at teaching proper technique. I'd recommened the books written by Marc Rippetoe and Bill Starr and watching videos by powerlifting coaches and lifters (that do not focus on lifting in gear). I could 'fix' (read: strengthen and work around) my back troubles with deadlifting, but would not recommened that to someone without a guide or knowledgeable help at hand.
- krrrh 11y ago
  You can improve your technique a lot by carefully watching Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength DVD. Ask someone to record video of you lifting every now and then and get a feel for your body in space or upload it to youtube for advice if you're unsure.

by tP5n 11y ago

tormeh 11y ago

How did you hurt yourself on machines/dumbbells? Not rhetorical - I would like to avoid doing the same mistakes. And yes, I do have horrible technique. And since I don't have a personal trainer, no one is ever going to tell me when my technique slips, so I'd rather not rely on it.

tP5n 11y ago
Mostly by overstretching particular joints under load, eg. behind the neck presses and pulldowns & pushing myself on dumbbell presses with weights I could move but barely control, at one point I lost control but did not drop the weights. The others where loading up machines with weights I could not have moved if it weren't for the fixed movement plane of the machine, that ultimately meant trouble for my lower back (leg press) and grinding in my knees (leg extensions).
tP5n 11y ago
btw, most personal trainers are horrible at teaching proper technique. I'd recommened the books written by Marc Rippetoe and Bill Starr and watching videos by powerlifting coaches and lifters (that do not focus on lifting in gear). I could 'fix' (read: strengthen and work around) my back troubles with deadlifting, but would not recommened that to someone without a guide or knowledgeable help at hand.
krrrh 11y ago
You can improve your technique a lot by carefully watching Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength DVD. Ask someone to record video of you lifting every now and then and get a feel for your body in space or upload it to youtube for advice if you're unsure.