Has it been proven free weights show results faster than machines??

NoExcusesFromNowOn
NoExcusesFromNowOn Posts: 76 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just read a comment from a member telling a beginner not to use machines. I use them for the majority of my beginner workouts. I do use the biceps and triceps with a cable. Is this wrong? I'm seeing results. ??

Replies

  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    There's no noticeable difference in physique. There are other reasons for doing freeweights though, like developing functional strength, and working stabilizer muscles.
  • ccsernica
    ccsernica Posts: 1,040 Member
    edited June 2018
    Exercising with machines tends to isolate muscle groups; exercising with free weights tend toward compound motions or will at least engage stabilizer muscles. But use whatever you're comfortable with and whatever gets you results. It's more important that you exercise at all than that you conform to someone else's preferences.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    adamlambert1877 wrote: »
    I just read a comment from a member telling a beginner not to use machines. I use them for the majority of my beginner workouts. I do use the biceps and triceps with a cable. Is this wrong? I'm seeing results. ??

    I dont know I always heard free weights are better as you use more muscle groups to lift the weights and you need to use proper form with machines you dont. for me I noticed better results with free weights compared to cable machines so much so that I gave away my cable machine(one of those huge suckers with all kinds of station type things) and bought a weight bench,barbells and weights. Im sure someone can come in and clarify why.
  • VUA21
    VUA21 Posts: 2,072 Member
    Free weights tend to require more muscles to be used for similar exercises. Let's say a simple bench press on a machine vs using two dumbbells. With the dimbells, you are not only doing a press, but also keeping the weights from moving to the sides. It's not a lot, but over time it can add up. The benefit with machines is that you almost have to make an effort to over rotate or extend yourself enough for injury.

    In the end, whichever one you are more comfortable with and actually use with give the best results.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5260589/

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