MACHINES OR FREE WEIGHTS, WHICH ARE BETTER?

Machines or free-weights, which are better? This has become a controversial topic for many of those who work out. It would be fair to say that most personal trainers recommend machines over conventional free weights, primarily because of safety and convenience issues. When starting off with a training program, novice bodies are not conditioned, so if they were to lift free weights, they would tend to do the motion incorrectly and be more then likely to injure themselves. Machines lessen the chance of an injury because you do not have to balance the weights, your muscles are isolated and you are solely working that primary muscle. With free weights you are incorporating secondary muscles into play. The question is which is more effective and efficient for improving strength and power and decreasing body fat? Few power athletes train on machines. They primarily use compound exercises with free weights that allow them to move quickly and powerfully, an option which is almost non-existent on a machine. The best combination for people is to utilize both free weights and machines. This ultimately results in both strength and size improvements, depending on one’s goals.

Love,
Danielle