There are things we get inspired by and helping us get back into something or start up for the first time. When it comes to an underrated method of exercise, the Chest Expander ranks right up there especially in this era of modern equipment like machines and such. Chest Expanders have been around since the 1880's and have produced some of the greatest physiques in all of not just bodybuilding but in Physical Culture. From Eugene Sandow to John Grimek, at one point or another either endorsed and/or practiced with this apparatus.
I've been using the expander for years off and on and have reaped plenty of benefits including building my back that I consider the most muscular area on my body. What helped me get back into it? For starters, to build some strength and even out the shoulders. Working with hammers and animal exercises will always be my thing but often times, the shoulders are only hit in a couple areas and need to do more pulling exercises such as even the TNT cables but the Chest Expander works the upper body in places bodyweight, hammers and kettlebells can't touch. It also builds off a better posture.
The other thing that inspired me to utilize this old school training style was finding videos of the great Fred Rollon who's claimed to have used almost nothing but Expanders, Isometrics (Muscle Control) & Bodyweight Training. Now even judging from the pictures of this guy, he had one of the most powerful looking physiques that even by today's standards would consider him on steroids. Ripped to shreds with muscle that he was given the nickname The Human Anatomy Chart and this was before major supplements and steroids even existed.
The chest expanders of today compared to Rollon's time, have changed from Steel Springs such as These to Rubber Elastics which Lifeline Fitness has produced. In Fred's era, the amount of Tinsel Strength was said to be around 300 lbs at it's best. That's got to be one of the most profound feats at any point in history. Today with the rubber cables, the highest I've ever heard of him someone doing was around 250. Some Expanders go up to 120 kilos and before he died, Bruce Tackett produced a DIY version called the Hook which you can put cables on that reached a level of 400 lbs which I don't believe anyone has ever attempted and if they did, just budging it even an inch or two would be considered superhuman strength.
Chest Expanders are truly underrated because of their versatility and ability to build muscle without needing a gym or tons of equipment. The amount of exercises you can do would be the equivalent to a complete workout that mainly hits most of the upper body groups such as the shoulders and upper back. I even came up with some exercises on my own like pulling for Arm Wrestling doing hundreds to a thousand reps at at time during certain periods of my life. They tackle the tendons and ligaments and one of the best pieces of equipment to help avoid injuries. Although the amount of resistance isn't the same as lifting a barbell or dumbbell, it does create greater tension the more you extend it. The peak of the resistance is towards the end of a pull but the heavier you make it, the harder it is to try and expand it. Lifting a weight like dumbbells utilizes gravity and is the same resistance from the top to the bottom of a move but elastic cables try to prevent you from moving them and the more you extend, the more it'll fight you. That's why when you pull, the contraction is greater in the muscles along not just isolating a muscle but using multiple in order to move it.
When it comes to convenience, very few can match the elastic cables because you essentially can have practically an entire gym in the palm of your hands and are easy to adjust from light to heavy resistance. Most cables weigh less than a few ounces to just over a pound yet can make you have the workout of your life. In reality, resistance is resistance and the body doesn't completely know the difference between rubber cables or barbells. You'll build muscle either way from them with the right set of routines. It's always awesome to get a great workout in anywhere you can from a hotel room to the park, the beach, your backyard, your bedroom hell even at a dumb Trump Rally where you'll probably look in better shape than 99% of the people there.
Add the Chest Expander to your training and you might be surprised how much your strength and conditioning goes through the roof, not to mention some bad ass muscle building (maybe not as crazy shredded as Fred Rollon or maybe you will). Grab a set and if you're into the really old school and want to do the 5 cable set instead of the typical three today, grab this sucker and have at it like the greats from yesteryear.
Here's a recent video I do where I use the Lifeline CE at 150 lbs Resistance doing three exercises that showcase the ability to build a muscular back and shoulders.
