Is the Chest Expander a Good Exercise?

Chest expander cables cannot replace free weights, resistance machines or a full gym, but they are effective exercises for building functional strength. Chest expanders promote ligament and tendon strength, and they also tone your chest muscles. If you're looking for size and power, heavier resistance exercises are in order, but it's worth looking into chest expanders to supplement your current routine. If you're dealing with injuries, chest expanders are low-impact compared to heavy weights.

Versatility and Accessibility

Aside from the physical advantages of chest expander training, one of the obvious benefits to working with the cables is the versatility and accessibility they afford. Chest expander cables are relatively inexpensive and you can use them virtually anywhere. You can use expander cables to simulate many of the same upper body exercises as free weights, such as lat pull downs, triceps extensions and shoulder presses, and you can do exercises unique to the cables.

Safety

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Another benefit of chest expander training is the relative safety of the exercise when compared to higher resistance methods of training such as free weights and exercise machines. Free weights require you to stop a significant amount of inertia when lifting, which can be hard on your joints. Cables are smoother and less unstable, and offer less resistance.

Unique Exercises

While the chest expander can supplement or replace full upper body workout routines, the exercises you can do are only limited by your imagination. Partner-based exercises such as rows, as well as individual exercises like cable rotations, cable shadow boxing and leg exercises can all be incorporated into your routine.

Benefits and Drawbacks

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Chest expanders offer some unique benefits, including expanded deltoids and pectorals, and increased breathing capacity, but there are some drawbacks. Chest expanders are more difficult to injure yourself with than free weights, but it's not impossible. A sudden snap of the band can cause painful slaps and pinches, and you can push yourself too far by extending the band past the limits of your muscles, especially when fatigue sets in. You're also not going to get the same kind of strength gains with chest expanders as you could with other forms of training.