When sitting down in the rotary torso machine, you face forward; however, before you begin exercising, you must lift the orange lever located on the left side of the machine, and you must manually rotate the seat (and your body) either to the left or to the right. In essence, the starting position begins with your body already in the transverse plane (twisted), not the sagittal plane (facing forward, your legs forming your lap). So, this means that a complete range of motion begins from one side, past the middle and then to the other side.
Exercisers unfamiliar with the machine often start in the middle, then do a half-turn left, then return to the middle, and then complete a half-turn right. This is incorrect and dangerous, especially when using heavy weight. The weight stack becomes prone to dropping suddenly this way, because the mechanics of the seat are not designed to cross over the front without the lever tucked into the proper starting position, especially at the normal speed of the exercise.
When changing rotational directions, remember to lift the handle and manually rotate yourself to the other side and begin again. Note: Even when performing the exercise properly, please refrain from slamming the weight stack as you rotate side to side. This level of force is unnecessary, and this maneuver can imply that the weight is too heavy and/or the exerciser has lost control of the exercise. It only takes a second for an injury to occur when an exercise is not performed properly.
If you have any questions about how to properly use the rotary torso machine, please seek the guidance of a Sun City personal trainer today!