Why working out on a weight machine could be harming you

Fixed resistance equipment can be found in most gyms worldwide. However, what some don’t realize is that these machines do not have a significant impact on improving our functional activity as they cause muscle imbalances, leading to an increased risk of injury.

The problem with fixed resistance machines

Isolated activation

The body’s musculoskeletal system acts as a complete unit. For example, if you throw a ball, the force that is initiated comes from your entire body. Or if you were to go for a run, your body works as an integrated system that mobilizes all your joints in your structure in order to produce a running action.

Fixed resistance machines only activate the muscles in an isolated manner therefore have no carry over to what we do in reality and do not provide stabilization for everyday movement or when we play any sports.

The loss of dynamic support and muscle fatigue is a risk.

Failing to stack our joints

In our culture today, we tend to remain in a seated position for long periods of time.

Fixed resistance machines require us to sit down some more which increases the deficenices we have developed in our bodies. These deficiencies cause certain muscles to become tight and others to become weak. This translates throughout our entire body and leads to bad posture, pain and even injury.

So, sitting down and exercising only adds to creating future dysfunctions in our body.

The ideal way to work on developing a good posture would be in a standing position, allowing the body to achieve an optimal alignment throughout the joints.

Over dependence on the muscles that ‘look good’

Your nervous system would not work to activate your deep abdominal muscles (core) if it is not challenged to.

Therefore, sitting down or lying down doing fixed abs crunches without the help of a machine will work.

The brain only activates the muscles in the body when there is direct demand placed upon that area. These machines may challanege the outer mucsles that “look good,” such as the abdominals, but the deep inner muscles are not being worked.

This strengthening of the outer muscles could lead to injury as you may over depend on them for tasks such as heavy lifting.

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Fitness expert Vahdaneh Vahid can be reached on Facebook and Instagram.