5 Exercise to Swap by DailyHIIT
Here are some alternatives to 5 basic exercises that can make your workouts safer and more effective.
1. Stiff-Legged Deadlift
While this is a great move for building hamstring and lower back strength, the position of the knees in this move — having your legs fully locked out — can put undue stress on the back and cut off circulation between the heart and the legs. As a result the force you create diminishes with each rep, meaning less efficient work and minimal results.
While this is a great move for building hamstring and lower back strength, the position of the knees in this move — having your legs fully locked out — can put undue stress on the back and cut off circulation between the heart and the legs. As a result the force you create diminishes with each rep, meaning less efficient work and minimal results.
Swap It With: Romanian Deadlift
Keeping the knees soft in the Romanian Deadlift, or RDL, takes pressure off the back and actually promotes good circulation between the heart and the legs, meaning you’re able to maximize force production for each rep of the exercise. And more force means more strength, which results in more muscle.
Keeping the knees soft in the Romanian Deadlift, or RDL, takes pressure off the back and actually promotes good circulation between the heart and the legs, meaning you’re able to maximize force production for each rep of the exercise. And more force means more strength, which results in more muscle.
2. Behind-the-Neck Seated Military Press
While this exercise might appear to be an effective shoulder developer, it has two prominent flaws. First, it puts your shoulders in a vulnerable position linked to impingement syndrome, an injury and condition that can keep you out of the gym for long periods of time. Also, being seated means less core stabilization and less force production — therefore, less muscle-building potential.
While this exercise might appear to be an effective shoulder developer, it has two prominent flaws. First, it puts your shoulders in a vulnerable position linked to impingement syndrome, an injury and condition that can keep you out of the gym for long periods of time. Also, being seated means less core stabilization and less force production — therefore, less muscle-building potential.
Swap It With: Standing Barbell Overhead Press
Moving the bar in front of your neck puts the shoulders in a safer position, meaning far less chance for injury. Also, standing up recruits more muscle fiber overall, and the more fibers you recruit, the more testosterone and growth hormone get released into the bloodstream. These two hormones together translate into huge gains.
Moving the bar in front of your neck puts the shoulders in a safer position, meaning far less chance for injury. Also, standing up recruits more muscle fiber overall, and the more fibers you recruit, the more testosterone and growth hormone get released into the bloodstream. These two hormones together translate into huge gains.
3. V-Grip Seated Row
Often a go-to “back day” exercise for many lifters, this move has proven its worth in helping lifters develop greater musculature in their backs. However, the narrow grip restricts full retraction of the shoulder blades and does not allow your elbows to go back behind the rib cage. The V-grip seated row is basically a partial rep that can end up being more of a forearm builder than anything else.
Swap It With: Wide Grip Seated Row
Placing the hands wider than shoulder width in a seated row allows a lifter to pull his or her elbows back further than in a traditional seated row. Full range of motion with the shoulder blades allows for greater muscle activation. The more muscle activation there is, the more testosterone and growth hormone are released, leading to more strength and muscle gains long-term.
Placing the hands wider than shoulder width in a seated row allows a lifter to pull his or her elbows back further than in a traditional seated row. Full range of motion with the shoulder blades allows for greater muscle activation. The more muscle activation there is, the more testosterone and growth hormone are released, leading to more strength and muscle gains long-term.
4. Push-Ups
There’s no question that push-ups are essential for developing a defined chest, cannonball delts and powerful triceps. However, one of the less-known benefits of the push-up is core work. This move hits your core harder than any crunch variation out there, so while there’s nothing inherently wrong with doing a push-up, if you can do three sets of 20 with ease, it’s time for a change.
There’s no question that push-ups are essential for developing a defined chest, cannonball delts and powerful triceps. However, one of the less-known benefits of the push-up is core work. This move hits your core harder than any crunch variation out there, so while there’s nothing inherently wrong with doing a push-up, if you can do three sets of 20 with ease, it’s time for a change.
Swap It With: Val-Slide Push-Up Reach
You know those sliding plastic disks at your gym that are the newest craze? The Val-slide push-up reach is a great way to challenge both the core and increase the difficulty for the push-up at the same time, saving time on separating core work from the rest of your workout. In addition to adding another core stability element to the basic push-up, the Val-slide push-up reach is a great way to work your lats while working your chest. Plus, it hits your shoulders way harder than the standard push-up ever will.
You know those sliding plastic disks at your gym that are the newest craze? The Val-slide push-up reach is a great way to challenge both the core and increase the difficulty for the push-up at the same time, saving time on separating core work from the rest of your workout. In addition to adding another core stability element to the basic push-up, the Val-slide push-up reach is a great way to work your lats while working your chest. Plus, it hits your shoulders way harder than the standard push-up ever will.
5. Decline Bench Press
Bodybuilders have long known the benefits of working the chest from different angles. Doing so helps develop certain parts of the chest that need more attention. The decline bench press specifically targets the lower chest area — an area that most people have difficulty bulking up.
Bodybuilders have long known the benefits of working the chest from different angles. Doing so helps develop certain parts of the chest that need more attention. The decline bench press specifically targets the lower chest area — an area that most people have difficulty bulking up.
Swap It With: Low Cable Crossover
While the decline bench press is a good option for lower chest development, it lacks one essential part. In order to activate all the muscle fibers of the chest, especially the lower ones, the elbows need to be able to come together and a barbell limits motion. Using cables and really forcing the elbows together at the end of the movement enhances the contraction, recruiting more muscle fiber. The result: more muscle activation, leading to bigger gains in shorter time.
While the decline bench press is a good option for lower chest development, it lacks one essential part. In order to activate all the muscle fibers of the chest, especially the lower ones, the elbows need to be able to come together and a barbell limits motion. Using cables and really forcing the elbows together at the end of the movement enhances the contraction, recruiting more muscle fiber. The result: more muscle activation, leading to bigger gains in shorter time.
http://www.acefitness.org/acefit/fitness_programs_exercise_library_details.aspx?exerciseid=71
http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/advanced-push-up-exercises/
http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/low-cable-crossover
Comments
Post a Comment