Exercises that are dangerous

[Cburylax]

Before I list some exercises that I believe no one should ever do, I'd like to know what exercises many of you think are either worthless or dangerous and should never be attempted by anyone. Any takers?

[HHSLacrosse23]

Ive known a lot of guys getting hurt by squatting, especailly when they put on too much weight. Other than that none really.

[senor_k]

The Volkswagen dead lift. I tore my hammy with that one. The raw sewage backstroke isn't to good either.

[AXL]

The Volkswagen dead lift. I tore my hammy with that one. The raw sewage backstroke isn't to good either.
hahahahahahahahahaha "volkswagen deadlift"!!!!!!!!!!!!

so original

[AXL]

Before I list some exercises that I believe no one should ever do, I'd like to know what exercises many of you think are either worthless or dangerous and should never be attempted by anyone. Any takers?
besides wrestling the snake out of my fly when i pee i dont really know any exercises that are too dangerous to perform. you could argue that deadlifts are, but if done with correct form they are harmless.

[senor_k]

Putting it back is where the real danger lies, that's why I like button flies.

I should be a rapper.

[Cburylax]

I am a firm believer that no exercise is a bad exercise when done properly, however there are two exercises which I consider inherently dangerous and should never be performed by anyone for any reason. The first is the "Good Morning." You can find this exercise in Arnold's Encyclopedia of How to Hurt Yourself. This exercise is performed by putting a straight bar across your neck and traps and then leaning forward forming a 90 degree angle with your upper body and legs.

I saw a trainer get sued after he had an elderly woman do this exercise and really mess herself up. Big lawsuit. Stupid trainer.


The second exercise is the Behind the neck lat pulldown. Though popular over the last few decades and even today. I usually see older gentlemen and novices do this exercise all the time. Besides putting the lats in a poor mechanical advantage, the bar is placed directly over the C7-T1 vertebrae while the head is tilted forward (Perhaps one of the most vulnerable positions to be in). The danger lies in the chance of paralysis.

I have known of two people become quadrapeligics, one when the cable snapped and the other when the pin was not inserted all the way into the weight stack and they pulled down too hard.

Please do not do these exercises and though it is often hard and awkward, feel free to use the paralysis example to stop someone from doing the behind the neck pulldown. Just tell them to pull the bar down toward their upper chest which will work their lats much better.

NOTE: The lat pulldown is another non-athletic exercise. Try removing the leg pad and lifting slightly off the seat to make it more of a functional exercise. You'll find it is much hard to do this way.

[HHSLacrosse23]

Thanks a lot, that helps. I used to do them behind the back but ya that does make sense. Thanks for the heads up.

[RYU]

I am a firm believer that no exercise is a bad exercise when done properly... The first is the "Good Morning."Nice post Cbury, I also agree. I read Bruce Lee seriously injured his back when he overdid it w/ some Good Mornings.

The second exercise is the Behind the neck lat pulldown. Though popular over the last few decades and even today.Are they really popular? I've always heard modern trainers over the past several years poo-pooing behind the neck pull-downs, pull-ups, & military presses.

...feel free to use the paralysis example to stop someone from doing the behind the neck pulldown.How did those accidents cause paralysis? Was if from the bar hitting & breaking the vertebrae & spinal cord?

NOTE: The lat pulldown is another non-athletic exercise. Try removing the leg pad and lifting slightly off the seat to make it more of a functional exercise. You'll find it is much hard to do this way.Or just do pull-ups which are infinitely better. Although I know, you can't decrease your body weight for pull-ups.

[Cburylax]

Nice post Cbury, I also agree. I read Bruce Lee seriously injured his back when he overdid it w/ some Good Mornings.

Are they really popular? I've always heard modern trainers over the past several years poo-pooing behind the neck pull-downs, pull-ups, & military presses.

How did those accidents cause paralysis? Was if from the bar hitting & breaking the vertebrae & spinal cord?

Or just do pull-ups which are infinitely better. Although I know, you can't decrease your body weight for pull-ups.


Most trainers today don't use behind the neck pulldowns, in my experience it is usually the older guys (40+) who don't think they need the advice of a trainer, and younger guys who are just beginning.

Pull ups are a great exercise and so are military presses. The straight bar military press should also be done in front of the head (I prefer to do them standing up rather than sitting on a bench). The only reason I can think of that trainers might not like certain exercises is because either themselves or their clients have certain postural deviations which are aggravated by performing them. (I'll post some on postural deviations a little later)

In those two accidents, the bar crushed the C7-T1 vertebraes and critically injured the spinal cord.

[RaiderLacrosse]

That's an awesome thing to bring up. I never realized that this was so dangerous, in fact, I would vary in between chest lats and back lats thinking those two exercises worked different muscles. I'll make sure to correct anyone I see doing them in the townclub . . . it'll make me look smart too.

[noseslidesam]

We just did goodmornings in weight lifting today. I told my friend who were working out with me that doing goodmorning were bad but they just laughed at me. I just didn't do it and sat there and watched them being ignorant. What shoudl I say to the coach when he makes us do these next time, anything?

[BTlaxripper]

Aren't good mornings where you hold a weight, and start bent over and just bring your back up?

[LatinBabe]

...running backwards on a public track?

can't think of much else.

[Cburylax]

We just did goodmornings in weight lifting today. I told my friend who were working out with me that doing goodmorning were bad but they just laughed at me. I just didn't do it and sat there and watched them being ignorant. What shoudl I say to the coach when he makes us do these next time, anything?


That is always a tough situation to be in, how can you argue with a coach who recommends something you feel isn't quite right or even dangerous?

The problem with the good morning is that the bar may roll onto your vertebrae when you are in the down position and cause unnecessary pressure on your spine. Also, the pressure created on your lower back is often times overbearing which can cause you to strain your spinal erectors.

I would ask your coach WHY he recommends doing this exercise in his program before arguing with him over the benefits. If his answer is nothing more than his opinion rather than based on sound training advice you may have a problem.

[AXL]

i dont see why you wouldnt just do deadlifts instead of good mornings.

[Cburylax]

i dont see why you wouldnt just do deadlifts instead of good mornings.


Ya....me neither.