Which builds muscle faster......

..in upper body (arms back chest abs) free weights or machines at gym?

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

I would swear its free weights... I don't notice a huge difference when I use the machines

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

I wouldn't claim to be an expert but I think that as long as you're using proper form and using weight that challenges your muscles that it doesn't matter which one you use.

I do prefer to use my own body weight though - planks and push ups specfically.

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

When you work with free weights you engage more muscle groups b/c you have to stabilize your body and do the exercise. Personally I use a combination of both when I am at the gym. At home I use free weights and pilates for toning.

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

It is not a matter of machines vs. free weights. Really, it is routine and diet that factors into building muscle.

With that said, I am one of those "machines are evil" people. They are dangerous if you don't know how to use them. Very few of them are actually necessary and they have such a limited range of motion and they are unnatural. Especially in the upper body, there are sooo many muscle groups that don't even get touched with machines.

So, it's free weights or cables to get maximum results. Really, for upper body all that is necessary (I say this loosely) is push-ups, pull-ups and dips Don't need weights for any of those.

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

definitely free weights without any question

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

Im more of a fan of free weights (barbells, dumbbells etc) and body weight exercises. I feel you get a much greater range of motion and ahve to engage many more muscles at a time. I only use "machines" when I do leg workouts and i use the hack squat machine or the sled leg press. Other than that it is all barbells, dumbbells, TRX and other body weight workouts.

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

i like free weights better because machines limit your range of motion and how your muscles engage during the movement. (like using stabalizing muscles or combining movements for muscles exhaustion).

Re: Which builds muscle faster......

What I read too is that with bicep exercises, holding the free weights differently works different part of the muscle.

So I do hammer curls and then I do regular curls but with my arms out at 45 degree angles like this: WW video. They give strength and definition. I don't know that you can do both of those with a machine - at least I know I can't in my gym.