During most exercises your body not only moves up and down but also slightly forward and back.
The Smith machine eliminates this forward and back motion (most of the guides are on a slant trying to mimic this lateral movement).
Many people argue that this puts your body in unnatural form that can potentially cause injury.
While I agree with this statement, I would further argue that ANY exercise done with improper form has the potential to cause injury.
My recommendation is to start with a lighter weight, perform the exercise until it does feel comfortable to you, and then increase weight as appropriate. If you can’t find a “comfort zone”, don’t do it!
The guides eliminate the activation of the smaller stabilization muscles in the legs and core that would normally kick on during the forward/back movement experienced during a normal barbell exercise.
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Have a great day!
Jared