Height plays no significant factor in a person’s ability to grow muscle. Whilst shorter people may appear to have gained more muscle in less time, it’s simply because they need less muscle to fill out proportionally. In contrast, a taller individual with longer limbs may take more time to fill out.
For overall leg development, the squat is a better exercise when compared to the leg press. Whilst they both follow a similar movement pattern, squatting is a much more technical exercise which carries a higher risk of injury. If you find squatting difficult, the leg press makes for a good alternative.
Getting fit and healthy in the comfort of your home, saving money from expensive memberships, and sparing yourself from the hassle of having to drive – all of these are possible if you set up your very own home gym.
Chest machines offer a fixed range of motion allowing you to isolate the pectoral muscles without the need for going too heavy. The pivot points on each type of chest press mean you will be targeting different chest muscles. Continue reading to find out more about the different types of chest machines.
A trap bar, sometimes referred to as a hex bar, is a speciality barbell designed for executing a deadlift movement. It’s recognised due to its hexagonal design and, when compared to a conventional barbell, will recruit both anterior and posterior muscles with less stress on spinal extensors.
The bench utilised by powerlifters is likely to be manufactured to competition specification. This means it will conform to specific dimensions applicable in a competition environment. However, not all bench press benches will adhere to such conditions, but they do enable the user to bench press safely thanks to additions such as safety bars.
The eccentric phase of an exercise contributes more to muscle growth when compared to the concentric phase. This is due to more resistance against gravitational forces during the eccentric part of the movement. The concentric contraction is most responsible for improvements to athletic performance.
The most common cause of sharp knee pain when squatting is patellar tendinopathy. The patellar is a ligament that connects the patella to the tibia, and overuse can cause the tendon to wear and inflame, resulting in sharp pain just below the kneecap.
Regular strength training increases muscle which is good for the bones and joints leading to a healthy body. You’ll find everyday tasks become easier, such as carrying groceries and walking up the stairs and thanks to the release of endorphins, you’ll have an elevated mood.
Gym equipment can become contaminated with bacteria through bodily fluids such as sweat. As someone visiting the gym tends to use multiple machines, sweat can be disseminated quite quickly. If a gym does not have a daily cleaning regime, this could result in an unhygienic training environment.