can cables build size?

[ram23]

i've always been a big believer in using heavy free weight compound exercises for building mass. however, i have recently encountered a problem with triceps and my left elbow pain due to an old football injury. i just can't go any heavier on triceps movements without unbearable elbow pain. i've tried everything....skulls, closegrip, reversegrip, dumbell extentions, dips. i can do these with higher reps, but as soon as i use a weight heavy enough to fail at under about 10-12 reps, forget it. the only thing that doesn't bother my elbow is cable exercises. so i guess my question is can cables really be used for building size? is this what i should resort to? or should i just only work a higher rep range using the compound movements. any help you can give would be great. thanks

 

[Moen]

First of all you do not need to go below 10-12 reps to build size, if you can do the free weights painless for 15 reps, that will build size too dont worry.

Secondly, sure you can build size with cables

Thirdly: anything you cant do without pain is worthless, EVEN if its supposed to be better, if its painful, its just not better at the moment

 

[terryd5150]

...my question is can cables really be used for building size?...

Yup! My tri's AND bi's never looked better. The meat and potatoes of my arm workouts these days is cables. They worked great for me.

 

[Tough Old Man]

Only if you own a bowflex....LOL

 

[Ashop]

I think you can. I love cable workouts.

 

[mike1107]

personnally, I use cables only when it comes to cutting period for a continous intramuscular tension
I like to do more reps with it

when it's bulking time I use free weights only excepted for triceps

Moen : if you go higher than the 12-15 reps, chances are you'll use the type I fiber and they are not really prone to hypertrophy
go for 6-8 reps for myofibrillar work, 10-12 reps for sarcoplasmic work and you'll be ok to gain muscle ...

 

[terryd5150]

... if you go higher than the 12-15 reps, chances are you'll use the type I fiber and they are not really prone to hypertrophy
go for 6-8 reps for myofibrillar work, 10-12 reps for sarcoplasmic work and you'll be ok to gain muscle ...

Spoken from a guy who DAMN sure knows what he's talking about.

 

[Sesshomaru]

The body only knows tension, it doesnt know or care if that tension is coming from BB's, DB's, or cables. So yes, you can build muscle with cables provided you can apply adequate tension to the muscles safely and EAT (because you wont grow at all without fuel).

 

[mike1107]

The body only knows tension, it doesnt know or care if that tension is coming from BB's, DB's, or cables. So yes, you can build muscle with cables provided you can apply adequate tension to the muscles safely and EAT (because you wont grow at all without fuel).

yes buddy
but with cabls, you can keep a continuous tension in the whole ROM, with free weights it's not as easy as with cables

 

[Sesshomaru]

yes buddy
but with cabls, you can keep a continuous tension in the whole ROM, with free weights it's not as easy as with cables

That doesnt take away from anything I said.

 

[mike1107]

That doesnt take away from anything I said.

did I say that ?

 

[Eatbig2getbig]

Just look at Vince Taylor

A phenomenal pro that relies heavily on cables...Vince Taylor.

 

[edge250]

many times trainee's get good results from cables over free weights because they were to focused on how many plates were on the bar to get the same mind-muscle connection as they would with cables where subconsciously they are focusing more on feel and squeezing the muscle. they have there place but keep them to a bare minimum if you want maximum growth and stimulation.

 

[edge250]

vince taylor also gets great results off of scotch, beer, ketchup and burger king........bad example, lol. whats up ya big fucker, thanks for the t-shirts man. it sucks i feel i have lost one of my best friends, enjoy california. maybe if i can get magnum to leave the house i will have someone new to hang out with, lol.

 

[RazorCuts]

personnally, I use cables only when it comes to cutting period for a continous intramuscular tension
I like to do more reps with it

when it's bulking time I use free weights only excepted for triceps

Moen : if you go higher than the 12-15 reps, chances are you'll use the type I fiber and they are not really prone to hypertrophy
go for 6-8 reps for myofibrillar work, 10-12 reps for sarcoplasmic work and you'll be ok to gain muscle ...

Great post. You summed it up perfect.