How to kill yourself with a smith machine

[swiftfingers]

Well, I had an interesting workout today.

My workout partner and I were doing calf-raises on the smith. My workout partner likes to set it up so there's a wooden board sitting on two plastic aerobic stair step raisers. As in, not the actual stair stepper thing, but the two little plastic extensions that raise it higher off the ground. He likes using the board that way because he can hang his heals all the way off. I like using the actual stair stepper becuase it's much more stable. Well, today I decided out of laziness that I'd use his little set up... Big mistake.

So, he sets it up, we load up the huge amount of weight required for calf-raises, and I step under the bar. I do a few reps when I start to feel the board slipping a little. Before I could do anything the board flew out from underneath my feet. My ass goes to the ground with a ton of weight on my shoulders sending my face into the floor between my legs with a big crash. Luckily, the weights hit the floor before the bar crushed my skull. I was able to walk away with only bit of a bloody nose. Well, that and looking like a complete dip****, but that's only a small price to pay... Funny thing is before we were gong to do the calf-raises a made the comment, "Hmm, maybe we should try seated calf-raises today."

Lessons learned:
1) Don't assume someone hasn't lowered the catch pins all the way to the ground, or that your workout partner will set them up for you.
2) If you get a bad feeling about the safety of a certain method, don't assume you'll get by with it just because someone else has. Chances are you're gut instinct is right.
3) Even stupid, easy exercises like calf-raises can be extremely dangerous.

Well, chalk it up to experience, but I feel really stupid right now. I don't really blame my partner, because I had to be stupid enough to make some really obvious mistakes in judgement.

If I can wiggle my nose around without discomfort, it's probably not broken right?

-swiftfingers

[Norcalrallyist]

HAHA Wow I can picture that. You guys dont have a standing calf raise machine?

[ratmonkey]

some gyms can't afford to get a specialized piece of equipment like a standing calf raise machine when you can do it just as well with a smith machine, and the right step up.

out of the 4 gyms i have been a member of or worked out in only one, my high school weight room, had a standing or seated calf raise. you make do with what you have.

[swiftfingers]

This was at the local YMCA, the only place with a gym in town. Small free weight section, tons and tons of treadmills.

-swiftfingers

[B.Grimm]

Why not use the leg press for a similar exercise for calves?

[amusclehead]

glad you're not dead right now

[acumenjay]

That sucks man. Must have been embarassing. Luckily we have a few different machines for calves at the gym I go to. The biggest problem is getting the wannabe's off their cell phone, off the machine, and out of your way. At least your ok..

[scott_donald]

not good at all....

[danielport]

Safety should always be a priority.
Its always funny when someone is too cool to use clips and the weight slides right off the bar, then the other side heavier and that weight falls off.
Laziness can catch up with you.

Thanks for the heads-up. I will remember to set up the lock outs if i do a similar exercise on the smith.

[Bond]

LOLLL

That's one of the funniest things I've heard in a while.... heh sorry to say that but I'm laughing like an idiot here... Anyways, u could have easily killed yourself with such wheight going right on your neck dude... good thing the wheight hit the floor first...

[DavidnKS]

lol....always lock the safety catches to be safe!

[swiftfingers]

Originally posted by amusclehead
glad you're not dead right now

So am I.

-swiftfingers

[lucubration]

wish you had a picture of that