As my training has developed over the years, the major hurdles that I’ve needed to change from a physical perspective has not only been working around “standard” equipment and being patient with learning what fits but to understand my body to greater degree as it gets older.
What I have found much more recently is a requirement to take the impact off my hands and feet in a quest to support dexterity issues and a different muscle structure on my left side. Put simply, having to utilise more cables and less pressure from bars.
I find barbells quite rigid to push and whilst, for me, a Smith Machine allows more secure lift, my cable work is where I get more versatility, particularly for chest work. I can feel the toll it takes on occasions on my left and it has been a reminder for me to check my volume and base of my training often.
With a good recovery period, it’s also to my advantage to ensure a wide of equipment and exercises can provide the variety that becomes essential to my weeks in the gym.
Attaching equipment to my forearms and wrist takes this pressure off my hands and as a result takes away grip issues. The most interesting part I’ve found with this is that I’m still learning every week! There is great joy in new discoveries by taking either an existing exercise with a new perspective for your unique journey and making it your own.
Using cables to isolate a bicep curl was a recent addition by providing the moment of a curl from a cable machine – which has been around for ages but creating my own way around my dexterity has provided another set to add to my week. My advice is just keep trying new things and it will bring new discoveries!
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