The difference between using machines and free-weights in your workout routine.

Many people ask, especially when starting out on an exercise regime for the first time, and when joining a gym, what the difference is, or what the benefit is, in using free weights compared to exercise machines. This articles I came across at ezinearticles.com and provides a clear concise short answer to that question, and is worth a read when considering either/or. Written by Christopher R. Lowndes (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_R_Lowndes and sourced at http://EzineArticles.com/8801399) it is worth a few minutes of your reading time.

Machines are built to facilitate your ability to lift the weight at the point where your joints and ligaments need the most assistance. Starting out, it is important to strengthen these joints and ligaments before overloading them with force and machines are wonderful at achieving this, whilst also allowing you to build ample muscular hypertrophy. (Hypertrophy is defined as: "Enlargement of a part of the body due to the increased size of the constituent cells." In other words, muscular hypertrophy is the growth of muscle due to consistent contraction under a resistant force like weights or machines).

For an intermediate to seasoned lifter I would advise free weights as a necessary entity in your workout. Free weights require your stabilizer muscles to come into play a lot more because unlike machines the weights represent a true reflection of your strength and so a lot more muscles come into play when performing exercises with them.

Compound exercises such as squats, bench press and dead lifts are exercises that are performed with free weights and are essential when it comes to functional strength and athleticism. Whilst machines can mimic the primary muscles worked in these exercises, they cannot mimic the other stabilizing muscles being used secondarily and will not have the same effect on the neurological system which is one of the main factors in building strength, muscle, speed and overall athleticism.

So there you have it, the difference between machines and free weights. When it comes down to it, in an ideal world both play a part when it comes to health and fitness.
If someone has issues with their knees from a past injury I would obviously advise them to use a machine leg press versus doing a barbell back squat and on the other hand if I have a healthy college graduate wanting to play professional football then you can bet I will have them barbell squatting on a regular basis.

What I'm trying to say is that current settings and circumstances play a huge role in whether you should use machines or free weights and each has a place in your workouts regardless of age, gender, goals or past injuries and experience in the gym.

Start out using machines until your body is conditioned and then mix it up and incorporate both machines and free weights into your routine for an optimal workout and remember you can do ANYTHING you put your mind to as long as you believe in yourself and the direction you are going.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-