There are so many choices out there for exercise equipment, sometimes it is hard to know what to choose. Free weights are always best – barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, odd objects, and even bodyweight. Machines have their place, but they don’t usually belong in your main training routine.
So how can you choose your equipment based on your training history, goals, and injuries?
The smaller stabilizer muscles that are used when you train with dumbbells will fatigue before larger muscle groups like the pecs, lats, quads, and hams.
These are also the reasons you should stick with machines and even the occasional barbell exercise, but avoid dumbbells when you are rehabbing from injuries. By training properly with machines, you can still get a decent workout in but can attempt to avoid stressing out smaller, injured muscles.
Beginner athletes who are new to weightlifting can start with machines just for the first two weeks, but should progress almost immediately to working with dumbbells and barbells. Avoiding dumbbell work can lead to weaker ancillary muscles, and could lead to injury over time.
I personally would opt to just stick with dumbbells, then barbells, and then just call it a day. I am not dumb though; I know other athletes love to use machines, so here is your guidance for working machine exercises into your routine – do them last.
There are so many choices out there for exercise equipment, sometimes it is hard to know what to choose. Free weights are always best – barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, odd objects, and even bodyweight. Machines have their place, but they don’t usually belong in your main training routine.
So how can you choose your equipment based on your training history, goals, and injuries?
The smaller stabilizer muscles that are used when you train with dumbbells will fatigue before larger muscle groups like the pecs, lats, quads, and hams.
These are also the reasons you should stick with machines and even the occasional barbell exercise, but avoid dumbbells when you are rehabbing from injuries. By training properly with machines, you can still get a decent workout in but can attempt to avoid stressing out smaller, injured muscles.
Beginner athletes who are new to weightlifting can start with machines just for the first two weeks, but should progress almost immediately to working with dumbbells and barbells. Avoiding dumbbell work can lead to weaker ancillary muscles, and could lead to injury over time.
I personally would opt to just stick with dumbbells, then barbells, and then just call it a day. I am not dumb though; I know other athletes love to use machines, so here is your guidance for working machine exercises into your routine – do them last.