There are so many different types of resistance training equipment that it can be hard to determine what’s best for you and your own personal fitness level. There are many different weight machines for all of the major muscle groups, resistance bands, and free weights, so how do you choose what’s right for you? Below is a list of some of the advantages for machine weights and for free weights to help you decide.

Machined Weights Advantages:

• Better for beginners
  • Instructions on how to use them
  • Pictures for muscle education
• Less risk of injury
  • No spotter needed
  • Guide you through the proper range of motion
• Good for isolating muscles
  • If you are injured and want to avoid working a particular muscle group or specifically want to work a specific muscle group

Free Weights Advantages:

• Functional
  • Many of the exercises that can be done with free weights are more realistic for everyday life, however using free weights also requires a more knowledgeable user who knows the proper techniques and forms to reduce the chance of injury
• Larger range of motion
  • A greater range of motion may feel more comfortable or natural for your body
• Balance, coordination, and bone loading
  • You have to work harder to maintain balance and coordination with free weights which is better for your body, and bone loading strengthens your bones
• Recruit more muscle groups
  • Train more than one muscle group at a time

Casey Robertson ~Blogistics!