I keep getting an increasing number of video clips showing how different exercises are executed. Senders want to know if they are safe and effective exercises. This is understandable because of the many video clips being posted on U-Tube and various websites, each of which appears to be a most effective variant.
As I look through many of these video clips it becomes increasingly clear that most of the people who post these videos are very well-intentioned and offer this information to help others, especially in the area of strength training. However, the execution of many of these exercises is poor and in some cases, downright dangerous.
It appears that the people who make these videos put a different slant or variant to the execution to make their variant appear more original or as a substitute for an exercise they can not do on a machine. In some respects this is good but if it is not brought out how this variant is superior to the already accepted execution, it does not result in greater clarification. It only makes things more confusing.
Most often these video clips do not explain how the change or the execution involves the muscles during execution. They do not bring out the major purpose of the exercise, which muscles are involved and how they are involved, whether the exercise is now more suited to a specific sport or skill execution.
Without these explanations the overall question that should be asked is whether this variant is helpful or whether it even serves any purpose. How many variants of an exercise do we really need? I ask this question in view of the fact that most athletes still cannot execute the basic exercises as needed.
In other words, rather than learning how to do the basic exercise and doing it well, many athletes are turning to variants and different types of execution in the aim of becoming stronger and more fit. But yet, if they learned the basic execution and learned it well, they will see more gains in their sport or physical ability than by doing a multitude of different exercises.
Keep in mind that learning correct execution of an exercise can take a long period of time. For example, Russian weightlifters take up to a year working with a pole before graduating to the barbell. Learning to execute a basic squat and developing the physical prerequisites necessary to effectively do the squat, can take several months!
Some of the variants being developed are potentially dangerous. For example, doing a back raise with severely bent knees on a Glute Ham machine that cannot be adjusted to do the exercise correctly. I cringe when I see the potential for severe back problems. But as with many other things in life, you should use the right equipment for the job (exercise).
Because of the proliferation of exercises the viewer should exercise great caution when looking at these video clips and then trying to imitate the exercise. Try to figure out if the exercise will be safe for you and if it will be of any value. If you do not know enough about the exercise read some sources to educate yourself.
For more information on the biomechanics and kinesiology of exercises see the book Kinesiology and Biomechanics of Exercise. It will be a revised and expanded edition of Kinesiology of Exercise. Present plans call for it to be released prior to the end of the year.