The Advantages of Weight Machines

March 11, 2009 by  
Filed under Weight Lifting

Fitness equipment such as free weights, dumbbells and barbells may all be great tools for physical fitness. However, a weight machine has several advantages that other weight fitness equipment just can’t match.

As with every other piece of fitness equipment, it is naturally important to exercise caution whenever you use a weight machine. However, compared to other weights, this fitness machine is still a much safer bet. With a weight machine, the odds of dropping a weight are practically non-existent. Plus, spotting someone on this fitness machine is much more convenient, as well.

Weight machines are fairly simple to use, yet offer a wide variety of physical fitness exercises to work every muscle group. Almost all of its options provide a means to work the triceps and the deltoids, while most of this fitness machine’s models also have a station to work the biceps. The ideal weight machine to use however would be one that works the quadriceps and the hamstrings, as well as all of the back muscle groups and more, in one swift and easy method.

Stack machines are fitness machines that provide a stack of weights that can be adjusted with a pin. Plate loads also offer this simple option, although with this fitness equipment, that weights can be removed. With one quick movement that is safe, quick and practically indestructible, the weight can be moved from any weight range as you wish without any need to waste time or energy to remove a bolt or friction lever or strapping on a number of discs, as can be done with other fitness equipment, like free weights.

A good weight machine will offer a strong set of handlebars that will allow you to maximize your physical fitness workout by working the deltoids, the trapezoids, the pecs and other groups. It will also provide a similar bar on a cable to work the triceps, biceps, abs and more. Even the dorsal muscles can get a physical fitness workout through a swivel and pate assembly that may be attached to the weights of the fitness machine. Plus, all of this is easily adjustable. You can even get one with chinning bars, while some have a station with a rowing machine, offering one of the best physical fitness workouts imaginable! Not only will these fitness equipments work every muscle in your body, but they are also helpful for health fitness through the cardiovascular system.

A good weight machine will also come with an adjustable incline on the bench, offering an easy and safe way to complete sit-ups and crunches at various levels that you might need. This same bench has dual purposes, as it may also be used to do bench presses with the use of a range of weights. Plus, it conveniently lets you start at an easy level, but keeps up with you as your strength level rises. A weight machine is a piece of fitness equipment that will take a while to outgrow, if ever.

Some weight machine models allow the bench to be used as an incline plane, as well, which works wonders if you often do hyperextension exercises, an excellent way to build your back and abdominal muscles.

As with any other fitness equipment, however, weight machines are not perfect; they come with their own drawbacks. Weight machines tend to much more expensive than free weights, so they should really only be considered as a long term investment. While a regular set of free weight can cost as little as a hundred dollars, most weight machines only start at $400, and those are only those with a bare minimum of features.

From a physical fitness workout perspective, it takes a fair amount of planning, as well as a good weight machine to avoid overworking the same muscles over and over again. Because of the limited motion ranges, there is the possibility of getting stuck in a rut, so beware of that. Keep in mind that it takes strength, coordination and balance, plus a focus on different directions to optimize your physical fitness workout on this fitness equipment. However, a weight machine that offers a number of variations makes it completely possible to overcome these problems in an easy manner.