Vasa trainer: is it really good?

Originally posted by Zirconium Instead, I'd rather work antagonist muscles or work the same muscles but differently (using dumbbells, seated row, lat pull down, chin up, pull up, etc.) Does anyone agree with this idea? You raise a very important point. So I'm just wondering if the VASA can be arranged so you can do everything in reverse?

We have them at my university! I've seen them up in the pool balcony...although the team hasn't used them. Not sure if the guys team maybe uses them instead of us girls....

I don't know if this adds or distracts for m the conversation. Mnay big time universities use VASA. I think I read that both Texas & Arizona use the machines a lot. I've seen them at U of Ill, Indiana, and (for what it is worth) we have one at Knox. I've only used on e two times. I thought that it woudl probably help butwhy take the time to use a machine when I can just get into the water and swim.

I'm assuming they work...it's possible we just haven't started using them. Next dry land I'll try to remember to ask my coach. Edit: Oh and I should say that if you go to the Vasa website, they have exercises listed for various sports, among them competitive swimming (I think they also have like rec swimming). It goes through lots of different exercises...not just your basic free pull.

Originally posted by clyde hedlund You raise a very important point. So I'm just wondering if the VASA can be arranged so you can do everything in reverse? Glad that you see the "pattern" injury I was talking about by working the same muscles the same way day after day. And this is also the very reason that many weight exercisers prefer free weights over gym machines. With some creativity, I think you can invent some postures to vary the routines on the Vasa trainer. For example, sitting sideway and pulling with one arm to do the external arm rotation. However, outside of the lying postion the stomach, that looks clumsy and won't do anything better than regular weight training equipment (you can do a lot of exercise with a pair of dumbbells and a bench). Originally posted by clyde hmlee We have them at my university! I've seen them up in the pool balcony...although the team hasn't used them. Not sure if the guys team maybe uses them instead of us girls.... Is the device in working order? If yes, I would be very interested in knowing why your team doesn't use it. Can you please ask what the guys think about this machine?

Originally posted by Zirconium With some creativity, I think you can invent some postures to vary the routines on the Vasa trainer. For example, sitting sideway and pulling with one arm to do the external arm rotation. I used Vasa's in college, and I'm convinced that they help. We focused more on core strength, and preventing injuries... as well as builing strength and power in the early season. You can do exernal arm rotation by sitting sideways, and it's not clumsy at all. They show a photo of it here: rotator cuff exercise www.vasatrainer.com/.../swimming.php And they show photos of all the other core-building exercises you can do here. over 200 exercises www.vasatrainer.com/.../200.php You can certainly do all of these exercises with free weights and a bench, but if the Vasa can give you all that, as well as swim-specific training, it's doubly beneficial. I'm lucky because my swim club has one. If not, I'd buy one for home.