In the world of physical fitness, the term barbells have always been synonymous with muscle building. There are several types of barbell equipments, targeting specific muscle areas of the arms and legs depending on the executions. This equipment is often used during heavy work outs such as weightlifting and powerlifting training. Among these major types of barbell equipment are the standard barbell, the thick-handled barbell, the EZ curl bar and the tricep bar.
Most standard barbell sets are made up of a long steel or iron bar, a set of collars, and different plates placed on each end of the bar. The iron bar is usually between four feet (1.2 meters) to seven feet (2.1 meters) long, depending on the usage purpose. Collars are used to secure the plates on the bar to prevent the weights from sliding off during training. Most standard barbell plates have a hole in the center measuring about an inch (25 millimeters) in width where the iron bar can easily slide in. Different sizes of plates are usually used, ranging from 1 pound (0.5 kg) to 55 pounds (25 kg).
One type of barbell equipment is the thick-handled barbell, which is designed to test an athlete’s grip. The thicker the bar, the greater the difficulty of grasping with the hands and fingers. This often results in a dramatic increase of stress on the wrists, forearms, and hands during the exercise movements. This type of barbell equipment is mainly used for overhead presses and deadlift competitions.
Another type of barbell equipment is the EZ curl bar. This is a modified piece of barbell equipment used for exercises that target the biceps or the muscles in the upper arm. Its prominent feature is the curved appearance of the grip handle area, which gives the forearm and wrists a natural position. With this modifications, pain in the wrist and the risk of injury caused by repetitive stress is greatly reduced.
The tricep bar is a type of barbell equipment that looks like a cage with two parallel handles for each arm to grip. As the position of the arm grip changes from horizontal to vertical position during exercises, the effect on the target triceps muscles become more isolated and focused. Triceps muscles are the large muscles mostly found at the back of the upper arm. Similar to the EZ curl bar, the tricep bar also reduces the stress placed on the wrist of the user.
These different types of barbell equipment are great for stimulating the muscles to grow when used accordingly. It is recommended that one must be cautious and aware of the proper movements when using this equipment. Incorrect usage is often counterproductive and can result to unnecessary injuries.