Wednesday, June 13, 2012

FREE WEIGHTS VS MACHINES



I am a strong advocate of free weights because they allow the body to move synergistically.

The body moves in balanced cycles. Free weights delivers resistance to the body in a more organic way that promotes both balance and symmetry as well as superior strength and mass gains.

This in turn minimizes imbalances in musculature.Which in turn will minimize injuries.

I actually have never had any injuries from lifting weights in my 6 years of experience. (7dullah)
And I would say 95 percent of my resistance training is conducted via dumbbells, barbells, cables and  bars.

 The only "machines" I  will use on a regular basis are cables (which i consider to be free weights) and once in a blue moon; the smith machine for things like very heavy squats.


 Muscles have agonist and antagonist pairs.They would generally located on opposite sides of a bone ; a joint extensor and a joint flexor.

Antagonistic pairs are necessary because muscles can only exert a pulling force and cannot push themselves back into their original positions.
 
For example; when the biceps contract,  the triceps is relaxed and returns to its original position. The opposite happens when the triceps contract.

In any exercise, or movement  there are three types of muscles being used simultaneously.
  • Agonist muscles which are the prime movers,or the main muscle responsible for that particular movement.
  • Antagonist muscles which contract in opposition to the agonist.
  •  Stabilizer muscles which maintain  the body at an optimal position during that exercise

Machines basically fuck all that shit up.

With educated knowledge of the underlying anatomy you can position your body to achieve specific isolation of any muscle. Machines are not needed for this so don't be lazy!

The results will be superior in both, function , balance and mass.
I'm not saying never, train with machines...

Just know that there is a better and more functional alternative with free weights for whatever machine your using.








2 comments:

  1. Hi, Nice post! Would you please consider adding a link to my website on your page. Please email me back.

    Thanks!

    Harry
    harry.roger10@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey bro, sorry for the late reply..sure just send me an email and we can discuss that further. Yahyoush@hotmail.com

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