The Power Twister Bar was heavily adversited in the old bodybuilding magazines in the 70s. You’d see in the ads Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Sipes, Frank Zane and Dave Draper advertising. This kind of widget is very oldschool.
Don’t forget to check the “Chest Expander” article. It was back in the day very popular too.
You can use the Power Twister for various muscle groups: chest, shoulder, arm, wrist and hand backand here I am presenting an exercise chart from a bodybuilding magazine (from the 70s), have fun.
Exercise No. 1
Hold Power Twist in front of you at waist height, arms outstretched. Bring hands together as shown, while you gradually inhale till handles touch. Release and exhale slowly – Repeat 10 times, each time tensing the abdominal muscles as you pull your hands together.
Exercise No. 2
Hold Power Twist in front of you at shoulder height, arms exteneded at each side – Bend elbows and gradually inhale while you bring your hands together. Release and exhale slowly – Return to original position and repeat 10 times. Try to tense your chest muscles as you continue each exercise.
Exercise No 3
Hold the Power Twist with one hand held firmly at the hip, your other arm extended to the other side – Pull the extended arm toward the body, as you gradually inhale, in an upward motion till the handle touches your chest. Slowly exhale and return to starting position. Alternate position of arms and repeat 10 times for each arm.
Exercise No 4.
Hold Power Twist behind head with arms extended to each side. While you gradually inhale, bring hands as closely together as possible at the back of your neck. Slowly exhale and return to starting position. Repeat up to 10 times.
Exercise No. 5
Holding Power Twist behind back with fingers curled upward, gradually inhale and pull handles together behind you. Release and exhale slowly. Repeat 10 to 15 times tensing all muscles and pull handles together as closely as possible.
Exercise No. 6
Hold Power Twist with one arm held rigidly at you side, the other extended to the opposite side. Inhale slowly and bring extended arm toward the other till hands touch. Exhale slowly and return to original position. Alternate from side to side and repeat up to 10 times each side.
Exercise No. 7 –
Hold Power Twist so that one arm is extended straight up and the other out to the opposite side. Hold raised arm stiff and bend wrists. Gradually inhale and bring extended arm up to the other till hands touch. Slowly exhale and return to starting position. Alternate from side to side and repeat up to 10 times each side.
Exercise No. 8
Hold Power Twist in front of you, arms stiff at shoulder height as shown. Inhale gradually while you bring the handles together till they touch – Release slowly, at the same time exhale gradually, till the twister is horizontal. Repeat till your arms tire.
source: MUSCLE & BODYBUILDER from 1971 (author Ken Richards)
Just starting power twister training, so this is very helpful.
Power twister ftw. I’ve been lifting for 30 years and recently began the twister 100kg. Thing is tough at first!!!
Instead of bending / releasing the power twister and doing 10 or 15 reps, bend and hold until you hit exhaustion. It is much more effective using this equipment in this manner.
I’ve been using power twisters in some form or other since the mid 80s. I have always found them to be very convenient and effective. Now, I am experiencing sudden extreme elbow pain when attempting to perform exercise 8 with arms bent at 90 degrees. I’ve done this exercise forever.
What causes this pain and how do I overcome it? It’s strange that the pain should be so sudden and so extreme for an exercise I’ve performed for nearly 40 years (admittedly I took over a year off from the power twister and used free weights and chin up bar exercises instead). Feels like my elbows are about to explode.
Thanks for your help.