An alternative for using fitness machines are free weights such as dumbbells and barbells. Free weight training also has its advantages and disadvantages. We hope to clear up any questions you may have in this article.
Advantages of free weights:
• Increased use of stabilizing muscles: Muscles acting in a stabilizing role aren’t directly involved in lifting a weight, but instead keep certain parts of the body steady so that the primary working muscles can do their job properly..
• Helps to improve your balance: Weight lifting helps to gain strength and maintain balance.
• Cost and Space: Three or four sets of dumbbells would cost less than 10 times the amount spent on a machine. Dumbbells take up far less space than most of the exercise equipment sold on infomercials. You can easily place them in a closet, out of sight under the bed, or in a corner. There are even dumbbells you can adjust (i.e., PowerBlock) that allow you to adjust the poundage on one set, eliminating the need for single-poundage dumbbells.
Some of the disadvantages of free weights are as follows:
• Possible Increased risk of injury: Risk for injury is more if not used properly. Safety during exercise is more about proper form, technique, concentration and control rather than exercise apparatus. Someone can get hurt on a machine just as easily as with a dumbbell if incorrect form is used.
• The biggest disadvantage of free weights is if you’re using a free weight that’s a little too heavy, you start to use other muscle groups to help stabilize your body.
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.