First and foremost, if you don't know what either of those are.....perhaps it's better off you don't enter a gym just yet; otherwise keep on reading. Another issue close to this topic is regarding the usage of machines for workouts, which I'll address in the next blog.
Good question to ask yourself before your workout, barbells or dumbbells? When I started working out, dumbbells always seemed tougher than using barbells especially since you can balance a barbell with both hands. Nevertheless, I chose to stick with dumbbells since it was preferred by my trainer, and I assumed that a good mix of barbell and dumbbell workouts would be a nice balance.
Technically speaking, barbell exercises are classified as a "bilateral" movement. This means that you use both or "bi" limbs to move the weight in unison. Pullups and chinups are classified as bilateral movements due to the usage of both arms simultaneously.
Good question to ask yourself before your workout, barbells or dumbbells? When I started working out, dumbbells always seemed tougher than using barbells especially since you can balance a barbell with both hands. Nevertheless, I chose to stick with dumbbells since it was preferred by my trainer, and I assumed that a good mix of barbell and dumbbell workouts would be a nice balance.
Technically speaking, barbell exercises are classified as a "bilateral" movement. This means that you use both or "bi" limbs to move the weight in unison. Pullups and chinups are classified as bilateral movements due to the usage of both arms simultaneously.
On the other hand, a "unilateral" movement is classified as an activity that utilizes each limb separately to move a load, e.g. dumbbell shoulder press, dumbbell chest press and etc. A unilateral movement would train each arm independently, and will often require the usage of the core and other stabilizer muscles due to instabilities of balancing separate dumbbells.
In conclusion, dumbbell/unilateral movements should definitely be added to anybody's workouts. It works more muscles and also trains each arm separately, therefore balancing out any imbalances or weaknesses between each arm. Barbell/bilateral movements shouldn't be ignored either since you will be able to train at a heavier weight, and it would be good to mix it up with dumbbell exercises to continuously shock your body and thus preventing it from possibly plateauing.
(Pictures are acquired from http://www.bodybuilding.com)
1 comment:
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