I'm unable to back squat because of a back injury however, front squats cause minimal discomfort even when going heavy. Has anyone consistently used the smith machine for front squats before? I'm thinking it would be easier on my back.
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Thread: Smith Machine Front Squats
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12-02-2009, 04:43 PM #1
Smith Machine Front Squats
"Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
"Lightweight Babay!"
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12-02-2009, 05:08 PM #2
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12-02-2009, 05:11 PM #3
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12-02-2009, 05:18 PM #4
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12-02-2009, 05:20 PM #5
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12-02-2009, 05:35 PM #6
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12-02-2009, 06:33 PM #7
I would FRONT squat with a barbell, but once I get to 205, 215, 225, I start to feel pain in my back. My legs feel as though they could lift a great deal more, but with an injured back I rarely go heavier. I know that the Smith isn't a natural squat motion, but I just wanted to see if anyone had ever used it while injured as a substitute.
Thanks for the replies"Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
"Lightweight Babay!"
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12-02-2009, 06:42 PM #8
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12-02-2009, 06:54 PM #9
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12-02-2009, 09:21 PM #10
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12-03-2009, 12:04 AM #11
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12-03-2009, 02:15 AM #12
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12-03-2009, 03:14 AM #13
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12-03-2009, 03:45 AM #14
So why would you want to get under something that has you going up and down on rails, taking out the stabilizers that your body depends on for proper mechanics. The last thing your back needs is to remove their involvement.
If you know anything about the effects of imbalances in your lower body and it's affects on the lower back, you wouldn't want to be forcing leg growth without a healthy back.
Work on improving your back not keeping it at status or making it worse.Last edited by tonester; 12-03-2009 at 04:07 AM.
"Adapt and overcome."
"Everything you need is inside you."
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12-03-2009, 07:05 AM #15
No one is negating the fact that using a Smith Machine for squats won't target your leg muscles well. The reality, however, is that using a Smith Machine is not only less functional (translating gym movements into real situations); it also fails to adequately improve core strength and stability. People with low back pain often shy away from exercises which ideally will improve their lower back strength; hence the viscous cycle of lower back pain continues, and their functional mobility decreases as a result.
A smith machine can be good for those during rehabilitation. For anything else? I hate it.
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12-03-2009, 07:06 AM #16
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12-03-2009, 09:07 AM #17
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12-03-2009, 09:32 AM #18
Do what you're physically able to do. Sure, Barbell Back Squats are a good overall leg builder, but they're useless to you if you're unable to perform them due to a medical condition.
Front Squats on a Smith are an excellent exercise to target your quads, if that's your intention. Other exercises, such as Machine Hacks, can do the same thing.
A big part of successful bodybuilding is being able to adapt your training to your specific needs, and find practices and exercises that will do what you want them to, regardless of whether or not they seem to conform to 'conventional' thinking.Last edited by ironwill2008; 12-03-2009 at 12:12 PM.
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07-31-2011, 04:59 AM #19
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