All Exercises
Machine

Machine Exercises

Browse all machine exercises for strength training.

Showing 31–60 of 67 exercises

Machine Shoulder (Military) Press

Sit down on the Shoulder Press Machine and select the weight.

Shoulders
Triceps
Beginner

Machine Triceps Extension

Adjust the seat to the appropriate height and make your weight selection. Place your upper arms against the pads and grasp the handles. This will be your starting position.

Triceps
Beginner

Narrow Stance Hack Squats

Place the back of your torso against the back pad of the machine and hook your shoulders under the shoulder pads provided.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Intermediate

Narrow Stance Leg Press

Using a leg press machine, sit down on the machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at a less-than-shoulder-width narrow stance with the toes slightly pointed out. Your feet should be around 3 inches or less apart. Tip: Keep your head up at all times and also maintain the back on the pad at all times.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Intermediate

Recumbent Bike

To begin, seat yourself on the bike and adjust the seat to your height.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Beginner

Reverse Hyperextension

Place your feet between the pads after loading an appropriate weight. Lay on the top pad, allowing your hips to hang off the back, while grasping the handles to hold your position.

Hamstrings
Calves
Glutes
Intermediate

Reverse Machine Flyes

Adjust the handles so that they are fully to the rear. Make an appropriate weight selection and adjust the seat height so the handles are at shoulder level. Grasp the handles with your hands facing inwards. This will be your starting position.

Shoulders
Beginner

Rowing, Stationary

To begin, seat yourself on the rower. Make sure that your heels are resting comfortably against the base of the foot pedals and that the straps are secured. Select the program that you wish to use, if applicable. Sit up straight and bend forward at the hips.

Quadriceps
Biceps
Calves
Intermediate

Running, Treadmill

To begin, step onto the treadmill and select the desired option from the menu. Most treadmills have a manual setting, or you can select a program to run. Typically, you can enter your age and weight to estimate the amount of calories burned during exercise. Elevation can be adjusted to change the intensity of the workout.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Beginner

Seated Calf Raise

Sit on the machine and place your toes on the lower portion of the platform provided with the heels extending off. Choose the toe positioning of your choice (forward, in, or out) as per the beginning of this chapter.

Calves
Beginner

Seated Leg Curl

Adjust the machine lever to fit your height and sit on the machine with your back against the back support pad.

Hamstrings
Beginner

Single-Leg Leg Extension

Seat yourself in the machine and adjust it so that you are positioned properly. The pad should be against the lower part of the shin but not in contact with the ankle. Adjust the seat so that the pivot point is in line with your knee. Select a weight appropriate for your abilities.

Quadriceps
Beginner

Smith Machine Behind the Back Shrug

With the bar at thigh level, load an appropriate weight.

Traps
Shoulders
Beginner

Smith Machine Bench Press

Place a flat bench underneath the smith machine. Now place the barbell at a height that you can reach when lying down and your arms are almost fully extended. Once the weight you need is selected, lie down on the flat bench. Using a pronated grip that is wider than shoulder width, unlock the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.

Chest
Shoulders
Triceps
Beginner

Smith Machine Bent Over Row

Set the barbell attached to the smith machine to a height that is about 2 inches below your knees.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

Smith Machine Calf Raise

Place a block or weight plate below the bar on the Smith machine. Set the bar to a position that best matches your height. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step onto the plates with the balls of your feet and place the bar on the back of your shoulders.

Calves
Beginner

Smith Machine Close-Grip Bench Press

Place a flat bench underneath the smith machine. Place the barbell at a height that you can reach when lying down and your arms are almost fully extended. Once the weight you need is selected, lie down on the flat bench. Using a close and pronated grip (palms facing forward) that is around shoulder width, unlock the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.

Triceps
Chest
Shoulders
Beginner

Smith Machine Decline Press

Position a decline bench in the rack so that the bar will be above your chest. Load an appropriate weight and take your place on the bench.

Chest
Shoulders
Triceps
Beginner

Smith Machine Hang Power Clean

Position the bar at knee height and load it to an appropriate weight.

Hamstrings
Glutes
Lower Back
Intermediate

Smith Machine Hip Raise

Position a bench in the rack and load the bar to an appropriate weight. Lie down on the bench, placing the bottom of your feet against the bar. Unlock the bar and extend your legs. You may need to use your hands to assist you. For added stability grasp the sides of the Smith Machine. This will be your starting position.

Core
Beginner

Smith Machine Incline Bench Press

Place an incline bench underneath the smith machine. Place the barbell at a height that you can reach when lying down and your arms are almost fully extended. Once the weight you need is selected, lie down on the incline bench and make sure your upper chest is aligned with the barbell. Using a pronated grip (palms facing forward) that is wider than shoulder width, unlock the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.

Chest
Shoulders
Triceps
Beginner

Smith Machine Leg Press

Position a Smith machine bar a couple feet off of the ground. Ensure that it is resting on the safeties. After loading the bar to an appropriate weight, lie underneath the bar. Place the middle of your feet on the bar, tucking your knees to your chest. This will be your starting position.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Intermediate

Smith Machine One-Arm Upright Row

With the bar at thigh level, load an appropriate weight.

Shoulders
Biceps
Traps
Beginner

Smith Machine Overhead Shoulder Press

To begin, place a flat bench (or preferably one with back support) underneath a smith machine. Position the barbell at a height so that when seated on the flat bench, the arms must be almost fully extended to reach the barbell.

Shoulders
Triceps
Beginner

Smith Machine Pistol Squat

To begin, first set the bar to a position that best matches your height. Step under it and position the bar across the back of your shoulders.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Intermediate

Smith Machine Reverse Calf Raises

Adjust the barbell on the smith machine to fit your height and align a raised platform right under the bar.

Calves
Beginner

Smith Machine Squat

To begin, first set the bar on the height that best matches your height. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step under the bar and place the back of your shoulders (slightly below the neck) across it.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Beginner

Smith Machine Stiff-Legged Deadlift

To begin, set the bar on the smith machine to a height that is around the middle of your thighs. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, grasp the bar using a pronated (palms forward) grip that is shoulder width apart. You may need some wrist wraps if using a significant amount of weight.

Hamstrings
Glutes
Lower Back
Beginner

Smith Machine Upright Row

To begin, set the bar on the smith machine to a height that is around the middle of your thighs. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, grasp the bar using a pronated (palms forward) grip that is shoulder width apart. You may need some wrist wraps if using a significant amount of weight.

Traps
Biceps
Middle Back
Beginner

Smith Single-Leg Split Squat

To begin, place a flat bench 2-3 feet behind the smith machine. Then, set the bar on the height that best matches your height. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step under the bar and place the back of your shoulders (slightly below the neck) across it.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Beginner