Free weights vs. machines
November 12, 2008
It is the desire of all to be fit and fine. Some people like to go for work outs in the gyms. They like to work on machines available for exercises of different body parts. However, some like to work with free weights. Both of them have pros and cons of their own. Let us look at the differences between both of them.
Machines
In a gym, you will find a number of machines to work out for various muscle types. These machines are a guide for your body. You can sit, stand or lie on these machines. They provide a lot of resistance to your body. Various advantages of machines are as follows:
• Faster work outs: Work outs become fast while using machines. You only need to select a weight and the rest of the task is done by the machine.
• Less risk of injury: Machines help in controlling your range of motion, thus reducing the risk of injury.
• Easy to use: One can easily work on these machines by reading the instructions given next to each machine, rather than going for a personal trainer.
• Helpful in recovering from an injury: Machines help a great deal in getting recovered from any major injury, thus helping you to remain fit and fine side by side.
Some of the disadvantages of machines are as follows:
• Increased risk of overdoing certain actions: While machine are of great help in reducing the risk of injury, they can cause injury also, if the same action of exercising on a particular machine is repeated more than required.
• Safety mistaken: It is absolutely not true that the guidance given by a machine for work outs can never result in an injury. Overloading of muscles with too much of weight can cause strain.
Free weights
Free weights, like dumbbells and barbells, are an alternative for machines, to keep you fit and fine. They also have their own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of free weights are listed below.
• Increased use of stabilizing muscles: Your muscles get stabilized due to lifting of weights. There is no need to worry about the time being devoted on a particular exercise.
• Helps to improve the balance: Weight lifting helps to gain strength and maintain balance. It helps to improve your brain power too.
• Similarity with daily routine activities: Exercises performed with free weights are quite similar to the daily routine activities and hence help in facilitating daily routine activities.
Some of the disadvantages of free weights are as follows:
• Increased risk of injury: Risk for injury is more if not used properly.
• Decreased efficiency: Efficiency decreases if you are not able to adjust the weights according to your preferences.
Thus, it is advisable for beginners to start with free weights, as they are less risky and correspond to the daily routine activities. It is not as if machines are not good, but it is right that free weights are a better option.


























