Pec Dec

snoops · 04-08-2008, 08:59 PM

I was reading Jason_Ferruggia's article that was posted on Ironmagazine's homepage, and read that he felt the pec dec machine to be dangerous and worthless for gaining muscle. I hurt my shoulder a while back (tore one of the muscles) and have not been able to do flys since. Because I cant do flys, I started using the pec dec as a substitute and started to really like the machine after benching. Am I wasting my time or does anyone else like using the pec dec?

iceman816 · 04-08-2008, 09:06 PM

Yeh mate i've heard and experenced the same thing.
I personaly found lying DB Flys to be safer and seem to work the pecs just as hard if not harder

danzik17 · 04-08-2008, 10:52 PM

I would imagine the pec dec would hurt your shoulders more than doing flys, but who knows. It's a really unnatural motion.

**Gazhole** · 04-09-2008, 04:03 AM

Like Danzik said, pec deck (and all machines) are unnatural and their freeweight equivalent will always do more for you.

fufu · 04-09-2008, 05:18 AM

It's a single joint movement and a machine, so don't expect much out of it.

It isn't worthless, but don't put too much stock in it as one of your primary exercises.

snoops · 04-09-2008, 09:56 AM

yeah I understand it isnt a great substitute for flys, but considering I cant do flys, Id say its the next best thing. On top of that, I think it hits my chest pretty hard and find it hard to believe that the machine is completely worthless. Just my 2 cents, was wondering what other people thought.

snoops · 04-09-2008, 09:58 AM

in response to Danzik, I would have thought the same thing too. For some reason though, with my torn labrum, flys kill and the pec dec feels fine.

danzik17 · 04-09-2008, 10:05 AM

Did you go to your doctor for the torn muscle? Physical therapist? If at all possible I would focus on rehabilitating the area so that you can eventually return to normal function, but I don't know how bad you injured yourself (that and I'm only an internet doctor)

gixxer0.6g · 04-09-2008, 11:34 AM

I've found the best is with the cables. I'm not a big fan of flys because you don't get much of a press when your hands come together at the top. Atleast the dec gives you constant resistance throught he whole rep. But the cables I feel work the best.

cadnkides · 04-10-2008, 03:52 AM

it hurts some peopls shoulders but if it dont its good for building the inside of the chest mussle

nadirmg · 04-10-2008, 12:48 PM

i injured my rotator cuff last september was out of the gym until february and finally have been back for a while and regained my strength.

pec dec still hurts my shoulders and i can't do 60lbs on it for the stress to them. but dumbbell flys on the flat bench? no problem i can do two 30lb dbs easy.

machines are no replacement for freeweights

and the straight line of motion movement that comes with the machines leaves you more vulnerable to injury.

fufu · 04-10-2008, 01:06 PM

I think the pec deck bothers alot of people's shoulders because when they use the machine they stretch their shoulders further with load than they can without load.

04-08-2008, 08:59 PM	#1
snoops Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 168	Pec Dec I was reading Jason_Ferruggia's article that was posted on Ironmagazine's homepage, and read that he felt the pec dec machine to be dangerous and worthless for gaining muscle. I hurt my shoulder a while back (tore one of the muscles) and have not been able to do flys since. Because I cant do flys, I started using the pec dec as a substitute and started to really like the machine after benching. Am I wasting my time or does anyone else like using the pec dec?
snoops Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 168

04-08-2008, 09:06 PM	#2
iceman816 ICEMAN Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 42 Photos: 2	Yeh mate i've heard and experenced the same thing. I personaly found lying DB Flys to be safer and seem to work the pecs just as hard if not harder
	Adrian

04-08-2008, 10:52 PM	#3
danzik17 Gender: MALE Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,127 Blog Entries: 5	I would imagine the pec dec would hurt your shoulders more than doing flys, but who knows. It's a really unnatural motion.
	Ron Paul 2012 Journal: Boom goes the dynamite

04-09-2008, 04:03 AM	#4
Gazhole iwillmakeyousmelltheglove Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 6,532 Photos: 18	Like Danzik said, pec deck (and all machines) are unnatural and their freeweight equivalent will always do more for you.
	http://sdatrainingprograms.blogspot.com - Updated 02/12/08 "Do i not like that? No, i do not not like that, i LIKE that!"

04-09-2008, 05:18 AM	#5
fufu fiendish thingy Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,470 Photos: 7	It's a single joint movement and a machine, so don't expect much out of it. It isn't worthless, but don't put too much stock in it as one of your primary exercises.
	fufu's 1337 Journal Your diet will set you free.

04-09-2008, 09:56 AM	#6
snoops Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 168	yeah I understand it isnt a great substitute for flys, but considering I cant do flys, Id say its the next best thing. On top of that, I think it hits my chest pretty hard and find it hard to believe that the machine is completely worthless. Just my 2 cents, was wondering what other people thought.
snoops Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 168

04-09-2008, 09:58 AM	#7
snoops Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 168	in response to Danzik, I would have thought the same thing too. For some reason though, with my torn labrum, flys kill and the pec dec feels fine.
snoops Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 168

04-09-2008, 10:05 AM	#8
danzik17 Gender: MALE Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,127 Blog Entries: 5	Did you go to your doctor for the torn muscle? Physical therapist? If at all possible I would focus on rehabilitating the area so that you can eventually return to normal function, but I don't know how bad you injured yourself (that and I'm only an internet doctor)
	Ron Paul 2012 Journal: Boom goes the dynamite

04-09-2008, 11:34 AM	#9
gixxer0.6g Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 30	I've found the best is with the cables. I'm not a big fan of flys because you don't get much of a press when your hands come together at the top. Atleast the dec gives you constant resistance throught he whole rep. But the cables I feel work the best.

04-10-2008, 03:52 AM	#10
cadnkides Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: usa Posts: 77	it hurts some peopls shoulders but if it dont its good for building the inside of the chest mussle

04-10-2008, 12:48 PM	#11
nadirmg hardr bettr fastr strongr Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 940 Photos: 7	i injured my rotator cuff last september was out of the gym until february and finally have been back for a while and regained my strength. pec dec still hurts my shoulders and i can't do 60lbs on it for the stress to them. but dumbbell flys on the flat bench? no problem i can do two 30lb dbs easy. machines are no replacement for freeweights and the straight line of motion movement that comes with the machines leaves you more vulnerable to injury.
	w/o log 5'5" - currently bulking - 145lb on 5/16 weight goal I: 150 :: bench goal II:170 :: squat goal II: 250 :: weighted chin goal IV: +35 x 5 x 5

04-10-2008, 01:06 PM	#12
fufu fiendish thingy Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,470 Photos: 7	I think the pec deck bothers alot of people's shoulders because when they use the machine they stretch their shoulders further with load than they can without load.
	fufu's 1337 Journal Your diet will set you free.

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