Pec Dec

[snoops]

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]

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]

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

 

[Gazhole]

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

 

[fufu]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[nadirmg]

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]

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.