John Amtmann is a professor in his twenty-second year
teaching for the Applied Health Science program at
Montana Tech in Butte, Mont. He works in the summer for
Alpine Tree Services in Butte, Mont. If you have questions
about health and fitness for arborists, he can be reached
via e-mail at jamtmann@mtech.edu.
Ashley Kelly is an undergraduate student at Montana
Tech.
* Many people mistake "intensity" for heaving the weight,
using momentum to complete additional repetitions that would
www.arborage.com
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Photos provided by John Amtmann
So, what's better, free weights or machines? Answer: It's
not a matter of what you use but how you use your strength
training equipment. If you exercise with focus and intensity,
performing quality sets with proper technique that cause an
overload to your musculoskeletal system, then your strength
fitness will improve whether you are using free weights,
machines, sand-bags or water-filled jugs. If there's a good
gym on your way home from work and you can efficiently
train using machines at the gym, do it. If not, and you have
to train at home using free weights, great. Both methods
have potential if you put forth the effort.
Machines
Machines are more
expensive, but most are
easy to use.
not otherwise be possible. Proper technique includes:
— Slow, controlled-movement speed.
— Good posture with a stable base.
— Breathing: Do not hold your breath at any point during a
repetition.
Arbor Age / April 2013
23
