Top 3 Exercises Your Trainer Wants You To Avoid
There are literally hundreds of exercises you can do in the gym or at home. Some you love; some you hate. Some work; some don’t. You can find any number of videos online with moves that the trainer, expert, or guru says you have to try. The truth is there are probably some exercises you shouldn’t be doing — or ones you should do instead. We spoke with certified personal trainer Heather Neff and got her list of the top three moves she has her clients avoid and what to do instead.
Avoid: Tricep Dips on a Bench
Why you shouldn’t do it: At the top of your triceps dip when the shoulders are locked out, a great deal of pressure is put on the AC joint, which is located just where the shoulder blade meets the collarbone. If your AC joint is already under stress or has previously been injured, this movement can cause damage or even separation. Then at the bottom of the dip, the unnatural position of the shoulder ligament and anterior deltoid (the front of your shoulder) will cause a great amount of pressure as well and can lead to a tear. [What to do when your shoulders hurt when you type]
Instead: Push-Up
Instead: Deadlifts
Avoid: Superman
Let’s get past the superhero reference with the least amount of fandom as possible. The truth is that this is a move that has become a staple of a lot of workout routines, but it’s also a move that you should stay away from.
Why you shouldn’t do it: Not only is this exercise bad for the back in that it compresses the nerves between the spine, but it has such a limited range of motion that you’re not fully engaging the intended muscles. The position (face down) that the superman exercise puts you in does not allow for much of an extension.