Deadlifts - Question

juliannorton1000

Well, next to staying on top of my squats, I'd also like to do deadlifts. Here's the issue, though - my wife annd I workout at Planet Fitness. We love the atmosphere and it really pumps us to do our best workouts. However, they don't have free weights for things like squats and deadlifts! Only the Cybex machines!

My question is this... can you do a proper squat on a Cybex machine? The reason I'm skeptical is because of the straight up-and-down motion it limits the user to.

Aaron_K123

I'm not sure admittedly what a Cybex machine is but from your description it sounds like a Smith machine where the bar is fixed on a track. I have been turned off from doing squats with a Smith machine with the idea that the rather unnatural movement the fixed bar puts you in during a squat motion could potentially cause injury or at the very least gives you a sort of false-strength simply because the bar is being held for you. I imagine the same issue is true of deadlifts.

I understand your issue though, without going to a free-weight gym that has power racks and barbells its hard to get in a proper squat or deadlift. Perhaps someone else has more experience with a Cybex machine and can give their 2 cents.

Unknown

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wonderwoman234

I talked to a trainer at PF who said if you use the Smith machine to squat that you should have your feet in front of your body and lean back onto the bar to protect your knees. With a regular rack, you go more straight up and down. You should ask the trainer at PF!

I just joined a new gym because PF doesn't have many serious lifting options.

12by311

When I got really into doing squats, I did my first two days work outs on a smith machine and it snapped my back up.

I have no problems under the bar.