Alternative Exercises

[trikydik]

Good Day!

I have 2 issues doing dumb bell work outs and use machines instead... I am looking for the correct machine alternative to these exercises...


As I have stated on other threads, I had my knee cap kicked off my left knee at 25 doing Aiki-Jitsu... Even with a knee brace on, I can't really do squats (my knee cap pops just from walking)... I can do the leg extension machine with about 200 lbs... ... would this be a safer and more importantly, an alternative to the squat?

2nd... I cannot lift free weights over my head... My left shoulder has been broken and there is a healed split in the joint from when I was 3. I find it hard to bench press and lift weights above my head...(Last time I did, I dislocated my shoulder and about brained myself)... As an alternative, I do chest presses and shoulder presses... would the chest press be an alternative to bench press?

[Brett N]

Chest press works the same muscle. It may not be a 100% perfect alternative but if it is what you can do I say good. I do reverse grip flat bench to hit upper chest instead of incline and I really like it. You could try switching your grip on chest press to hit chest muscle at a different angle to help develop it more.

Can you do leg curls/hamstring curls on a bench? That would also help develop the legs. Even without squats, I think you could have a very good looking, muscularly developed leg.

Finding what works for you is going to be key, keep up the experimentation and I'm sure you will get a better workout than 90% of the guys out there.