Smith Machine Squats

[Guest wildpegasus]

Hey Everyone

 

This is a question for anyone that trains:

 

 

Most of my life I've done normal barbell squats but due to fate seeming rearing its ugly head in every single direction I don't have the option of normal barbell squats anymore.

 

I started doing leg presses but they always seemed to give me little injuries so I decided to concentrate more on smith machine squats. Now I'm always feared smith machines giving me injuries because of the lack of freedom in them. I'm doing okay right now but I'm currently worrying about them affecting my hips.

I know if your legs tend to go inwards during some of your squats that means your hips and leg abductors muscles are a little weak or something.

 

Now this is something I've corrected as of rescent times (though I still have to check to see if they'd go inwards during an all out set of breathing squats) but the problem I'm experiencing now is this. I'm thinking the smith squats could be injuring my hips but I'm not 100% sure because I figure that maybe my hips are working more during my squats more than they used to be so I'm not used to that feeling. Usually I know right off the bat the difference between injury/soreness and all that but here I'm having a hard time differentiating (excuse the spelling) between the two.

 

Technique wise -- Currently I have my legs out a good little bit in front of me and I go down to where I'm parallel to the ground (though in the past I often went down further but I'm concentrating on super form right now) I have also always had a tendancy for my left side to go sideways when I squat (dangerous as this caused me to injure my back one night) though I haven't really been doing that in the smith machine as of late. My brother also has the same tendancy to go to the side so I guess it must be genetic.

 

To sum this all up -- Do anyone know if smith machine squats are hard on the hips?

 

Thanks for any responses.

[I like Forums 0]

This gimmick reminds me of Drew Barrymore's brother in that Adam Sandler movie "50 First Dates".

[theintensifier 0]

This gimmick reminds me of Drew Barrymore's brother in that Adam Sandler movie "50 First Dates".

 

You're an idiot, go away.

 

To answer you question Pegasus: I've never heard anything about the Smith Machine, positive, or negative.

 

However:

 

Doing weightless, parallel style squats has always worked for me. You can tell it's working, because after about fifty to a hundred of them, your quads and thighs are on fire. Also, to work out the calves, do calf raisers.

 

Running and bicycling are tremendous exercises for the legs.

[Guest wildpegasus]

To answer some questions that were asked of me:

 

I'm 6 foot 1 inch, usually around 180pds and have more of a naturally ectomporph physique. I've been naturally skinny my whole life (that's me in my sig). So when I do stuff like squats or bench presses I have a longer range of motion than average. When I squat with the machine I tend to have my legs further out than I would if I were squatting barbell style because I want to keep my back erect since I had different problems with it for about 16 yrs.

 

 

Yes, I do run but that's only once in awhile. It depends on what type of work I'm doing. During some points of the year I'll be walking for 6 or more hours a day so that's when I usually don't run because if I did my legs would rot away if I added that with my leg work and normal work. During Nov and Dec I will be dragging Christmas trees for hours which is a very difficult job. Currently, I am not walking too much.

 

Both hips feel the same way. At first I thought it was just the right hip and an injury but now I'm sure that something's up because they both feel the exact same way. Exact same place on each hip. Soreness is something that springs up to mind immediatly but the rest of my legs will be perfectly fine after the soreness phase but meanwhile the hips will still be feeling it. Although I've been sore in my hips in past years I've never had this problem before.

 

I'm thinking it may be the constricted range of motion. Because the smith machine just forces you to go one way.

 

 

I squatted tonight by the way. I went light for my strength level and did a couple of sets with dumbells followed by a couple light sets in the smith machine. Just to see what will happen.

[theintensifier 0]

Where on your hips does it hurt ? Like in the front towards the top of your thighs ? If yes, that's your hip flexor. I've injured both of mine on numerous occasions during my years of competitive football. It takes a long time to fully recover from that.

[Guest wildpegasus]

Where on your hips does it hurt ? Like in the front towards the top of your thighs ? If yes, that's your hip flexor. I've injured both of mine on numerous occasions during my years of competitive football. It takes a long time to fully recover from that.

 

It's hard to pinpoint exactly. It could be that. I would say it's a little bit more to the front of the thighs than not.

 

It's a small little area bothering me and it feels more like it's deep inside rather than closer to the skin if that makes sense.

[theintensifier 0]

Yes, that makes a lot of sense. Sounds like what I am talking about.

 

And no matter how much streching you do, it never goes away ?

[Guest wildpegasus]

Yes, that makes a lot of sense. Sounds like what I am talking about.

 

And no matter how much streching you do, it never goes away ?

 

You know what's bad for "never going away"? Groin pulls. They always come back to haunt you.

 

Stretching is something I got to do more of. That's one of my things that I cheat some on despite being a believer in its benifits. I've never really had this problem before. I think it's gotta be the smith machine.

 

Are your hip flexors doing okay now or are they still bothering you?

[theintensifier 0]

Streching is very important for muscle developement. Seriously.

 

My hips have been pretty good. They usually hurt really bad when I go on extremely long hikes, or play football.

[Guest wildpegasus]

I wish elitefitness.com didn't have a board that was so annoying to post on. Every time you don't post for a little while you get kicked off.

 

There's gotta be some real good bodybuilding forums on the net but I can never seem to find any.

[theintensifier 0]

I'll see what I can find.

[theintensifier 0]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/

 

First result off of google.com

 

Looks to be fairly populated.

[Guest Princess Leena]

So, that's where the hip flexor was. My friend kept telling me he injured it, and I had no idea where it was. That area has bothered me too, before. Figures.

[Guest wildpegasus]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/

 

First result off of google.com

 

Looks to be fairly populated.

 

Signing up as I type this. Interesting that you have to your parent's email address if you're under 13. I've never seen that before.

[theintensifier 0]

Injuring the hip flexor is a common injury that nobody really knows anything about.

 

It's not surprising that you've hurt yours Leena, considering your height, and playing tennis usually will have that effect.

[Guest wildpegasus]

2103 active members!!!

 

Look at this -- Even the WWE's got its own forum -- http://forum.bodybuilding.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56 Looks impressive at first glance especially for a nonwrestling forum!

[theintensifier 0]

So I did moderately okay for searching ?

 

That deserves a *free* Benoit comp

[Guest wildpegasus]

So I did moderately okay for searching ?

 

That deserves a *free* Benoit comp

 

But I found the wrestling forum on there so that evens it all up! Hmm, maybe I'll throw in an extra match.

 

 

Comps take a long time to make when you're scowering tapes for individual matches. The last comps I made took quite awhile.

 

 

I already posted a thread about my squatting problem at the board there.

[EricMM 0]

the hip flexor, like sooooo many other balancing muscles, hurts forever because you're constantly using it.

 

See your adducters and abductors.

 

See abs.

[Guest wildpegasus]

the hip flexor, like sooooo many other balancing muscles, hurts forever because you're constantly using it.

 

See your adducters and abductors.

 

See abs.

 

 

Luckily, I've never really had a problem with my abs.

[theintensifier 0]

When you do crunches, it helps the hip flexors.

[Guest Brian]

Let's ignore area and let's focus on motion. What motions (or exercises) hurt most, what times of the day (or at what point corresponding to a workout) bring out the pain? How often?

 

A couple of motion induced type questions. Describe where (if any) the pain exists:

 

Can you squat fine, no weight?

Can you squat and walk a few steps forward?

Can you stand on your tip-toes and walk?

What about heels?

 

And finally, describe a typical routine?

[Guest wildpegasus]

Let's ignore area and let's focus on motion. What motions (or exercises) hurt most, what times of the day (or at what point corresponding to a workout) bring out the pain? How often?

 

A couple of motion induced type questions. Describe where (if any) the pain exists:

 

Can you squat fine, no weight?

Can you squat and walk a few steps forward?

Can you stand on your tip-toes and walk?

What about heels?

 

And finally, describe a typical routine?

 

Let me state that I'm not it too, too bad shape. It's just that I know I'm starting to go down a slippery slope and want to stop it right there and head'er on right back uphill.

 

One person so far knows what I talk about and they described what I have to a tea --

I use to get this dull ache in my hips, and sort of in my upper BUTT... between the lower back and upper glute muscle. It was a deep ache, sometimes it was just sort of dull, and sometimes it was more painful.. I would try to rub it out, but it was deep in there. Felt weird too. I haven't had that pain since doing the free squats.. which I've been doing for a month now.

 

I'm not sure about the upper BUTT (since I have a little bit of an injury there already thanks to the leg press) but that is exactly what I'm feeling in my hips.

 

I can squat fine with no weight, I can stand on my tip-toes and walk -- I can do all that. When I squat I can feel it a little bit at the beginning but than the endorphins will kick in and you won't feel it during the set.

 

2nd or 3rd time ago I squatted I ran to town from home which was a good trek followed by squatting in the gym. I was sore the day after. You know the type of soreness where you can't really walk properly without feeling the effects from the workout the day before. I know what's that usually like because I've experienced it hundreds of times. However, this time it was different and I was also walking strangely (kindof bent over) because the hips were really sore. That's what really scared me. Some of the soreness of the hips went away but that dull ache remains. At first I thought I was just working the hips more than I used to (due to me concentrating so much on keeping my legs from going inwards which they would tend to do during very hard reps) but now I'm sure it isn't that.

 

Typical routine consists of squatting with an Olympic bar followed by another set a little higher in weight followed by.. etc until I gradually get to my final set where it's pretty much an all out encounter.

 

The ache is there consistantly now.

[theintensifier 0]

Might be a tear of some sort in there. If you have good medical coverage, might as well get it checked out, or go to the chiropractor / massage theripest.

[Guest Brian]

hat helps a bunch. If you talking in the back (buttock) and to the sides a little, you're probably talking about either a upper-to-mid thorasic problem or an SI joint. The thorasic area innervates the leg, and so if those are stretched there could be some reflexive pain. The SI joint is what the deep pain sounds like. I doubt it is a gluteus or hamstring problem, but there's only so much I can give you. Cut back the weight on the squats, incorporate your adductors and abductors, and work on balance exercises in the area.

[EricMM 0]

Don't overwork the -ductors, too much added bulk there leads to ACL tears.

 

Fuck that noise.

 

Just stand on one leg, or snowboard. You're up north...

[Guest Brian]

Snowboarding tears into those knees as well.

 

Balance in a workout is what you're looking for.

[theintensifier 0]

What do you mean balance ?

 

As in, not as much, or....?

[Guest Brian]

What do you mean balance ?

 

As in, not as much, or....?

 

Working out muscles that work in conjunction equally, and not overworking one area without incorporating the supporting muscles into a workout.

[Guest guerillagenius]

How often are your leg workouts, perhaps you are overtraining? I don't like the Smith machine, because your stabalizing muscles are not benefiting as much as they would with free weights, so it's putting a lot more strain on your major muscles than you are probably used to, and at the same time your stabalizers are getting weaker.