Resistance machines or free weights, which is better? Firstly let’s have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both…
Resistance machines are a lot safer than free weights to workout with. There is a high risk of injury when working out with free weights, you have to control the weights path without the assistance with machines. You have to really concentrate on proper technique, otherwise you can cause yourself muscle strains, tears and numerous other possible injuries.
Machines work on a pre-determined path which makes them good for isolating the muscle group that you are working, when lifting free weights it is a lot more difficult to isolate muscle groups. That said resistance machines don’t strengthen your stabiliser muscles, as there is only one path that the weight can go. When training with free weights, you have to control the movement of the weight yourself. This balancing of the weights movement develops your stabiliser muscles.
Free weights give you alot more flexibility than resistance machines, there are countless different movements that you can perform with free weights to suit your needs. Resistance machines have the one or maybe two set exercises that you can perform.
Resistance Machines have the advantage that they are quick and easier to set up for a workout, a quick adjustment to a seat and a the movement of a pin to set or adjust the weight is all that is usually required. When using free weights you have to swop over plates and mess around with putting them back in the racks.
You can see that resistance machines both have there advantages and disadvantages, which you prefer to train with is down to personal preference. My personal opinion is that resistance machines are great for beginners to start to develop their muscle strength. For more advanced trainers i think that for the majority of your workout you should use free weights, with proper technique great results can be achieved. The fact that you also develop your stabiliser muscles, makes them great for an all round strength. I do also believe that adding in the odd exercise performed on a resistance machine can give great results giving variety to your workouts.
Tags: bodybuilding, muscle, muscles, weight training