Abductors and adductors

Carnhot wrote: »

If these machines are as useless as everyone seems to think, why do gyms give them floor space?
*disclaimer: I don't use them.*

No machine is useless, every machine is a tool that has a purpose; the user just needs to find the purpose. Now, there are definitely more optimal ways to train certain muscle groups but that doesn't mean something is bad. For instance, I personally find little purpose for the Leg Press because most people are more quad dominant than hamstring dominant but that doesn't mean the Leg Press is useless as it can have a purpose for some.

On MFP the majority of the time when somebody asks about leg or lower body development you'll see everybody jump in with "Squat" and "Deadlift" and such quotes as "squatting is a natural movement, everybody can squat." While I also maintain that squatting and deadlifting are two of the best exercises one can do; everybody can squat but not everybody can squat properly. It's not uncommon, especially for somebody that is un-trained, to have poor glute and hamstring strength which makes doing a correct squat very difficult. When that happens sometimes other exercises and sometimes even machines can help develop the strength they need so they can squat or deadlift. Not sure if that answers your question or not, hopefully that helps a little.

^^As said above and ^^

A lot of people with knee and back issues are dominate in the quads and hamstrings (but not as much as quads) the less used stabilizer muscles add/abductors are weak causing an instability and thus knee and back pain! (Very generalized explanation) So no they are not useless machines at all!! I'm one of those people and since doing exercises to isolate and strengthen these muscles I've gotten relief.

juggernaut1974 wrote: »

Relevant gif

Bwahahaha so that's why my old gym had that machine facing the wall

Love him!

Carnhot wrote: »

If these machines are as useless as everyone seems to think, why do gyms give them floor space?

Same reason health food stores sell ice cream. Some people want them.

The main reasons that people say that most newbies should avoid them is:

- they're isolation machines, meaning only 1 joint moves.. which tends to be an inefficient use of time.
- it doesn't target the fat layer there, a common concern for women.
- like all isolation machines, it doesn't train the muscles to coordinate with other muscle groups, like they normally do. That's sorta like a quarterback training by himself.

I would also add that adductors & abductors are mostly stabilizers, not heavy lifters. So the machines tend to overwork the muscles compared with how they function in the real world. Which might be fine if a physiotherapist recommended them to you.. or you're trying to bulk up those areas.

I do abduction exercises with and without bands at home. I can't bring myself to do them in the gym. Especially not clam shells for some reason. I'll do glute bridges and all but not those.

Carnhot wrote: »

If these machines are as useless as everyone seems to think, why do gyms give them floor space?
*disclaimer: I don't use them.*

When I went to a physical therapist for help with upper back pain, she prescribed clam shells then added resistance band exercise and then I graduated to this machine. Because I was over working certain muscles and under using my hips, she specifically wanted me to isolate and target certain muscles. This was one of several exercises that allowed me to do the cardio I enjoy without pain.