Is there a Question?
April 24th 2007 17:23
NMF received the following question this week from a loyal reader. My answer follows:
One of my fellow gym rats had a question about weights today and I figured
you might have some insight. He is on a schedule where we uses
dumbbells for a certain period of time and then switches back to using
the bar. He says that his muscles undergo a shock when he makes the
switch. My best guess was that using dumbbells vs. using the bar works
a different set of muscles. I was just curious as to what your
thoughts on the matter were. Thanks for any input.
If you are lifting to improve performance in a sport I think the point I made above is even more important. Its validity is proven everytime you pick up a set of dumbbell and try to bench them. A 200 lb bench press with a bar does not mean that you can grab the 100s off the rack and jam out about 10 or 12.Why? Balancing the weights involves coordination and that means neurology and neurology is the key to improved performance. Barriers to strength are rooted in lack of neural pathways. I think this is why a chin is much better than a pulldown machine. The natural coordination of the body's muscle groups to perform a chin opens neural pathways more easily than a machine where the apparatus relieves the need for balance etc.
My approach is always to make myself do the neurologically more difficult exercises. That will pay off. Thanks to all my readers at ASU-two time Football champs(You know who you are.)! Your servant, as always. Send me your questions.
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