Machines and weights
- Thread starter Sherif
- Start date
My opinion, FWIW, is that both have a place
Freeweights are superior to machines for the development of practical strength because they recruit all sorts of supporting muscles and trigger all sorts of neurological adaptations. You have to go out of your way, almost, to isolate a muscle group using freeweights, and AFAIK, it's not possible to do so perfectly.
At the same time, machines are superior when you do need to isolate a muscle, perhaps in order to protect an injury, or to avoid an injury, or to occasionally work a particular muscle group at a greater weight than one might normally be able to.
If I had to have one or the other, I'd pick freeweights. And if I had access to both, I'd make freeweights the foundation of my training. But I wouldn't pull up the garbage truck to the back entrance of my gym and start shoveling out the machines, either.
Freeweights are superior to machines for the development of practical strength because they recruit all sorts of supporting muscles and trigger all sorts of neurological adaptations. You have to go out of your way, almost, to isolate a muscle group using freeweights, and AFAIK, it's not possible to do so perfectly.
At the same time, machines are superior when you do need to isolate a muscle, perhaps in order to protect an injury, or to avoid an injury, or to occasionally work a particular muscle group at a greater weight than one might normally be able to.
If I had to have one or the other, I'd pick freeweights. And if I had access to both, I'd make freeweights the foundation of my training. But I wouldn't pull up the garbage truck to the back entrance of my gym and start shoveling out the machines, either.
to answer
i completely agree with everything u just said about free weights and machines. Im pretty much all free weights and cables (tri pull down anyone?).
to answer ur question tho...no u don't need to be sore the next day. however, i recommend that after about two months of the same work out, u change it. after u change ur work out around u may notice ur a little sore. but u dont need to be sore to have a successful work out.
i completely agree with everything u just said about free weights and machines. Im pretty much all free weights and cables (tri pull down anyone?).
to answer ur question tho...no u don't need to be sore the next day. however, i recommend that after about two months of the same work out, u change it. after u change ur work out around u may notice ur a little sore. but u dont need to be sore to have a successful work out.
machines are great for isolation moves...thus I recommend they go at the end of your workout...for taht final 'pump' before you call it a day.
and you're right that bodybuilders aren't true athletes. They aren't trying to push the most weight, or run the longest distance in the fastest time...they are merely trying to create the ultimate 'athletic looking' body. Thus they are more like models than athletes.
and you're right that bodybuilders aren't true athletes. They aren't trying to push the most weight, or run the longest distance in the fastest time...they are merely trying to create the ultimate 'athletic looking' body. Thus they are more like models than athletes.
Isolation is neither possible nor desirable. Risk of injury increases the more you workout without letting your joints and mechanoreceptors feel the weight. You body uses the sensory signals to promote growth and strength so that they can keep up with your muscles. Why would anyone want to become imbalanced?
Johnny said:
sure, complete isolation isnt possible, but for our intents and purposes you can come close enough. and of course, with increased volume, risk of injury increases, but what does this have to do specifically with isolation movements? Also, why would isolation movements cause imbalances? dont get me wrong: i believe that compound movements, as a whole are the best means of muscle development. however, isolation movements have a place in some routines.