Several machines use gravity to help supply resistance to the exercises you perform because they force you to overcome your body weight to produce movement. These machines are the pullup machine, the dip machine, the incline abdominal machine and the hanging knee machine. These machines don't have many moving parts, and they can provide an exceptional workout that improves your muscular strength and coordination.
Assisted Pullup Machine
The pullup machine works your back muscles while you overcome gravity's effect of pulling you toward the floor. The machine also has a platform that you can step on that will supply a counter balance, so you can adjust gravity's effect and make the exercise easier. Reach up and grab the handle bars of the pullup machine with an overhand grip and place your feet on the platform. Lower your body toward the floor by allowing gravity to pull you down. After your arms are fully extended, pull your body back up until your chin is even with your hands.
Dip Machine
The dip machine also allows gravity to pull you toward the floor so that your bodyweight becomes the resistance. It, too, has a platform so that you can add weight to counterbalance gravity's effect and make the exercise easier. Place your hands on the parallel bars so that your arms are fully extended. Place your feet on the foot platform. Bend forward slightly at the waist and then allow gravity to pull you downward. Bend at your elbows until there is a 90-degree angle at your elbow joint. Now, resist gravity and push your arms back up to full extension.
Incline Abdominal Machine
The incline abdominal machine will work your rectus abdominus muscles by using gravity's effect on your upper body to provide resistance. You will need to set up the machine's back pad at a level that will allow you to perform the lift. Beginners should utilize a 15-degree slant toward the floor while the most advanced users can set-up the machine so that the back pad is perpendicular to the floor. Now, wrap your feet around the leg supports and hook your feet under the toe supports. Lean back until your back is flat on the back pad. Then, crunch up, lifting your upper body off the back pad until you have crunched as high up as you can. This will require you to overcome gravity's effect on your upper body. Once you have crunched up as high as possible, slowly lower your body back to the floor.
Hanging Knee Machine
The hanging knee machine will utilize gravity's effect on your lower legs to work your lower abdominal muscles. Step onto the platform of the machine and place your back against the back rest. Your body will be in an upright position against the back rest. Place your forearms on the arm supports and grab the hand bars. Now, step off the platform and allow your legs to extend toward the floor. Resist gravity by bringing your knees toward your chest as high as you can. From here, slowly lower your legs back toward the floor and repeat.
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