144:– the bar can move up and down in a straight line along a vertical track. (Rolling the bar is also typically used to activate the safety locks.) Some variant designs allow an additional degree of freedom – forward and back – while still keeping the bar from rotating or moving side to side. These machines are sometimes called "3D Smith machines" or "Jones Smith machines".
132:. It is potentially good for performing exercise variations when progress has slowed using other exercise forms, although care must be taken to avoid joint stress issues. The removal of stabilizing muscles as a factor can also allow one to increase the intensity applied to primary muscles.
67:, as one only needs to twist the wrist in order to lock the barbell in place in the event that the weight becomes too great. Most models also incorporate blocks, pegs, or other devices which can be adjusted to automatically stop the barbell at a predetermined minimum height.
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A few designs, such as
Shermworks' "Free Spotter" or TuffStuff's "XPT Training System", permit almost all degrees of freedom while still incorporating user-activated safety catches (as opposed to the passive, pre-set safeties of a
164:, who rigged up a sliding apparatus in his gym in the 1950s. It was spotted by Rudy Smith, who commissioned Paul Martin to improve it. Smith then installed the modified model in a gym he was managing at the time,
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while alone is dangerous in general, but even more so in a Smith machine; if one gets trapped under the bar, it cannot be rolled or tipped sideways off one's chest or neck, which has led to at least one fatality.
102:. This may allow heavier weights to be lifted, at the expense of engaging less muscle mass overall. It is also hard to keep an accurate training log because manufacturers do not usually indicate bar weights.
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Behind each vertical post (runner) is a series of slots on which the barbell can be hooked. This means that unlike an ordinary barbell, the Smith machine need not be re-racked after a set of
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Use of the Smith machine is frowned upon by many strength training devotees as it forces the user to adopt an unnatural straight-up-and-down "bar path". This unnatural movement can cause
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This does not fully eliminate the inherent danger in having a heavy weight on one's back, however, and may instill a false sense of confidence. In 2001, a Smith machine user became
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The Smith machine does have some advocates amongst experienced trainees, however. The "bar path" issue is minimized for exercises involving a short range of travel such as
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168:'s gym in Los Angeles. By the end of the 1950s, Rudy Smith was an executive in Tanny's chain of gyms, and the Smith machine was being manufactured and sold more widely.
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Research published in
December 2009 reported that free weights triggered 43% more activation of the muscles than a Smith machine when performing squats.
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Making the
American Body: The Remarkable Saga of the Men and Women Whose Feats, Feuds, and Passions Shaped Fitness History
109:, the Smith machine is often preferred by casual or inexperienced strength trainees who do not know how to safely perform
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that is fixed within steel rails allowing only vertical or near-vertical movement. Some Smith machines have the barbell
121:, which are a piece of equipment critical for safely performing squats and other barbell-based free weight exercises.
47:. The machine can be used for a wide variety of exercises though it is most commonly used to perform "Smith machine
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The constrained movement of the bar also reduces the role that stabilizing muscles play versus an exercise using
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cater to casual trainees and thus may provide Smith machines instead of
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Schwanbeck, S; Chilibeck, P. D.; Binsted, G. (December 2009).
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on the knees or back and back when squatting or shoulders (if
335:. IDEA Health & Fitness Association. 2003. p. 15.
197:"Smith Machine Lawsuit Ends with $ 14.4 Million Decision"
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A Smith machine can be used for a variation of a squat.
260:"Machines Vs. Free Weights: More Research Is Needed"
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The
Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research
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439:. University of Nebraska Press. p. 49.
160:The Smith machine was invented by American
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309:"How Much Does a Smith Machine Bar Weigh?"
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113:exercises involving heavy weights. Many
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237:"4 Reasons to Bypass the Smith Machine"
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74:when the apparatus crushed his spine.
281:Stuart McRobert (February 12, 2008).
140:A conventional Smith machine has one
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407:"The Most Hated Machine in the Gym"
307:David Kiesling (January 20, 2019).
219:"Ben's generous last gift of life"
199:. Club Industry. September 1, 2003
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382:John Meadows (January 9, 2012).
258:Bret Contreras (July 16, 2013).
358:"Should I use weight machines?"
489:John Wood (February 8, 2013).
433:"The Machine Age, 1960s-1970s"
384:"Why I Love the Smith Machine"
356:Tom Banham (August 19, 2014).
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405:Paul Carter (July 12, 2016).
55:Use as a self-spotting device
533:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b1b181
239:. dovemed.com. July 23, 2015
83:Advantages and disadvantages
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464:"Obituary: Smith, Rudolph"
562:Weight training equipment
431:Black, Jonathan (2013).
332:Inspire Women to Fitness
16:Weight training machine
493:. oldtimestrongman.com
223:www.couriermail.com.au
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283:"The Brothers Grimm"
491:"The Smith Machine"
262:. bretcontreras.com
39:. It consists of a
225:. October 1, 2017.
156:Origin and history
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162:Jack LaLanne
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100:free weights
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89:shear stress
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72:quadriplegic
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126:calf raises
119:power racks
111:free weight
61:repetitions
180:References
150:power rack
497:March 16,
474:March 16,
413:March 16,
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367:March 16,
315:March 16,
292:March 16,
266:March 16,
243:March 16,
203:March 16,
166:Vic Tanny
35:used for
556:Category
542:19855308
287:Iron Man
93:pressing
65:spotter
41:barbell
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130:shrugs
49:squats
31:is a
538:PMID
499:2019
476:2019
441:ISBN
415:2019
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337:ISBN
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128:and
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