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Smith machines are easy to use weight training products that are most often seen in commercial gyms and professional training environments. These products were invented by Jack La Lanne in the 1950s, who rigged one together in his home to aid his successful personal training regime. These products are often incorporated as part of a larger multi-station training unit and so are seen as one element in the a total body workout. These products allow users to safely perform squats and other exercises without the aid of spotter.
These products are simple devices that feature a barbell that is fixed to a set of rails, which slide up and down with the motion of the user. They can have any amount of resistance added to them as they most often use free weight plates. The barbell can be set at any point and most feature a counterweight to provide a smooth lifting motion and a further level of safety. The setting of the bar also increases the convenience of the system as weight can easily be interchanged. Additional safety is provided by the fixed position as the bar cannot fall backwards or forwards during lifting. This is what allows lifters to forgo a spotter.
There are few drawbacks to this system however. Namely, just like with other single use machines, these products do not allow a free range of motion. This allows users to develop sloppy form and doesn't enforce the proper stabilization of muscles. Though they often use free weights, this means that users won't get the benefits, which often accompanies free weight training. Furthermore, the body has to adapt to the machine, which may lead to problems in form if training is done extensively on this machine for a long period of time.
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