Machines
Depending on your goals and health, machines may be more effective than free weights. Sinkler reiterates the benefits for those who may be recovering from an injury.
"Weight machines have their place in fitness," she says. "This is true for post-surgery rehab purposes or any situation where the person is unable to stand independently while moving external weight."
Schromm also steers some of her beginning clients toward machines. She especially recommends them for people looking to improve their pull-up.
"The machine I find extremely beneficial for my clients is the lat pull-down machine," she says. "It's great for those who really want to work towards a pull-up."
More: 6 Ways to Get More From Your Exercise Machines
There are still some things to consider, however. Because every body is different when it comes to height, weight and structure, machines can make exercises awkward for some. In some cases, these issues can result in improper use of machines, which increases the risk of injury.
Fitness and life strategist Jason Ferruggia has seen machines force others to use an unnatural range of motion, which can be stressful on joints and connective tissue.
"Machines remove the need for smaller stabilizer muscles to fire during the execution of an exercise because there is no need to balance the weight," Ferruggia says. "The machine does that for you."
Though your choice will depend on your goals and current strength, there's a place for both free weights and machines in almost any fitness regimen. Just be sure to consider what you want to get out of your workout and how many muscles you want to isolate in each movement.
More: Gym Workout: Your Fitness Machine Exercise Plan
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