As an individual looking to build muscle, you may wonder whether free weights or resistance machines are the better choices.
Both can be effective for building strength, but safety, time, and fitness goals are important factors to consider when choosing the right equipment.
Free weights engage multiple muscle groups and are a great way to improve functionality and build muscle. Still, they may require more time to learn the correct technique. On the other hand, resistance machines can be safer, less time-consuming, and an excellent option for those new to strength training but who want to maximize strength gains.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of each option and help you determine which one is right for you as an office professional! But before, let’s see what may have a huge impact on your decision!
The Impact of Sitting on Your Training
Sitting for extended periods can cause muscles to become weak and stiff, leading to poor posture, reduced mobility, muscle imbalances, and weaknesses; this can make it difficult to perform exercises correctly or to maintain a safe position, especially while using free weights. Let me give you some examples:
- Weakens postural muscles like the erector spinae: If these muscles become weak and fatigued can lead to chronic pain, discomfort, and a higher risk of injury during exercises that require good postures, such as deadlifts. So to perform deadlifts with proper form, it is vital to maintain a neutral spine, engage the core muscles, and keep the shoulders back and down. A weak erector spinae and rhomboids can make it challenging to do this.
- Hip flexors: Prolonged sitting can also cause the hip flexor muscles, including the psoas and iliacus muscles, to become tight and shortened.The inability to achieve full hip extension can limit the activation of the glute muscles, which are essential for explosive movements (jumps, sprints); power and strength, therefore, can significantly impact performance.Suppose the hip flexors are tight and overactive. while the glutes are weak and underactive, can also lead to compensations and increased stress on the lower back, which is also important while lunging, squatting, and deadlifting with a barbell.
- Chest muscles: Slouching or hunching forward while sitting can cause the chest muscles to become tight and overactive, while the powers of the upper back become weak and underactive. This muscle imbalance can lead to shoulder and neck pain, making it harder to perform upper body exercises with proper forms, such as bench presses or rows.
- Breathing: Poor posture while sitting can also limit the ability of the diaphragm to function correctly, which can affect breathing. This can make it harder to perform exercises that require reasonable breathing control, such as heavy lifting or cardiovascular exercises.
All these can be reasons why you may find it hard to perform exercises with free weights. In this case may be a better option to start with a mixture of bodyweight and resistance exercises. The meantime, also clear these restrictions and slowly start introducing free-weights into your routine. Here is more about their advantages and disadvantages.
The Advantages of Free Weights
Despite the challenges of using free weights, they offer several advantages over resistance machines. According to a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, free weights require more stabilization to keep the weights balanced, which forces the body to activate more muscles to maintain proper form, leading to greater muscle activation.
Therefore free weights are better options for :
- Building muscle
- Better overall muscle development
- Improved functional strength
- Athletic performance.
Free weights also allow for more natural movement patterns, which can be important for office workers who spend much of their day in a static position. Free weights enable the body to move through a greater range of motion, which can help improve mobility and reduce the risk of injury.
The Disadvantages of Free Weights
Free weights can be challenging to use correctly. Poor form and lack of stability can lead to injury, making it difficult to perform the exercises correctly.
For example, a popular free-weight exercise: The squat, requires the proper form to be effective and safe. The exercise can put excessive strain on the lower back without good form, leading to injury.
Also, free weights can be intimidating for beginners, requiring knowledge and experience to use effectively. They can also take longer to complete because they focus on the correct technique and require adequate recovery between sets and exercises. This can make them less attractive for office workers just starting a strength training program and for those who have limited time at the gym.
Yet, you can always get advice from a strength and conditioning coach or fitness professional to ensure the correct technique.
The Advantages of Resistance Machines
Resistance machines offer several advantages over free weights.
Like a stable base, back support, and adjustable seats, which can help office workers maintain good posture while exercising. Making them easier to complete. This can be important for office workers just starting a strength training program, as it allows them to focus on proper form without worrying about balancing weights.
Additionally, resistance machines are designed to target specific muscle groups, which can benefit those looking to build localized muscle strength without other muscles getting tired first. Therefore resistance machines are very affective increasing strength!
By isolating particular muscle groups, resistance machines can help office workers address areas of weakness or pain too.
The Disadvantages of Resistance Machines
Resistance machines have multiple benefits, but depending on them too much can limit muscle and body function and overall muscle development. Unlike free weights, they do not engage as many muscle groups and stabilizers. Furthermore, their set range of motion can eventually lead to muscular imbalances and impaired functional strength.
Therefore, it’s advisable to restrict the use of resistance machines to a certain extent
How to structure a safe and effective workout routine?
- Start with a RAMP warm-up
- Foam rolling (read why and how) and complete mobility exercises for tight areas (IT band, hip flexors, thoracic spine)
- Complete corrective exercises targeting weak areas (glute bridges, rows, face pulls, scapular retractions, balance)
- Focus on compound exercises that target multiple muscle groups (e.g., squats, deadlifts, lunges) with correct form.
- Use the combination of free weights and resistance machines (6 exercises in total with 3-4 machine exercises + core and some cardio) to allow for various exercises and target different muscle groups.
- Start with light weights and focus on proper form before increasing intensity. First, be good at body weight, then add weight: Start with bodyweight squat with correct form and good mobility (depth), move on to goblet squats with kettlebells, then to a barbell.
- Complete 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps and sets for muscle growth.
- Rest intervals can also vary, but typically, 60-90 seconds of rest is ideal. With the primary movements take up to 5 minutes of rest, especially while lifting heavy
- Incorporate rest days and recovery practices (stretching, foam rolling, massage) to prevent injury and allow for proper recovery.
- Priorities explosive exercises like kettlebell snatch, swing, or single-arm push presses.
- Do unilateral exercises: single leg deadlift, pistol squats, Bulgarian split squats, and single arm: landmine press, single arm row. If you include resistance machines, limit to 2-3 moves. This can help with muscle imbalance.
Since your job requires long periods of sitting and traveling, correcting bad posture and technique is crucial before engaging in strength training with an Olympic bar or other equipment. This will help you build strength and muscle and reduce the risk of injury and promote faster recovery from any existing injuries.