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Smith machine

The use of bodyweight exercises is increasingly recognised as one of the most effective methods of developing and maintaining a person's functional fitness and strength. articipants seek both the general health benefits and the sports-specific performance gains that can be achieved through a disciplined weight training program. Many participants belong to health clubs that typically have a wide array of weight lifting equipment. There are certain bodyweight exercises, including push ups, decline and incline push ups, dips, assisted dips, chin ups, assisted chin ups, bodyweight rows, abdominal and lower back exercises, leg squats and variations thereon, which may be considered fundamental. A single person requiring several pieces of equipment for bodyweight exercises can cause inconvenience to other gym users. Alternatively an individual may be personally inconvenienced by spending time setting up equipment or waiting for it to become available to use. A person requiring several pieces of equipment for a circuit of bodyweight exercises also requires more space than would be the case with using a single apparatus. Weight training belongs to the second category of exercise equipment in that it is designed primarily to increase muscle mass and to improve muscle tone. While there are many types of weight lifting apparatus, the most common are free weight units and weight lifting stations. Free weights, which are also known as barbells, usually include a long, steel bar provided with a number of disk shaped weights, and collars for holding the weights on the bar. Free weights are often used with a weight lifting bench. Machines may aid an individual in practicing desired exercises and they are usually designed and adapted to encourage repetitions of a variety of desired body movements. The Smith machine which is a self spotting apparatus manufactured by several companies. The apparatus includes a horizontal weight bar sliding on two vertical uprights with means for temporarily locking the bar at any location along the uprights in order that the athlete may position himself to preform the exercise.

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