Beyond a certain point, the human body will not allow disproportionate development in specific areas of the body. Regardless of physiological reasons, excluding genetic disposition, your muscle gains will be minimal unless you train the entire body.  All the major muscle groups need to be worked with intense, brief exercise.

Large muscle groups have a much greater effect on the whole body than smaller muscle groups.  Usually, the greater the distance between the muscles being worked, and those not being worked, the lesser the growth stimulation.  For example, when performing barbell curls, the indirect effect on your calves will be a lot less than on your triceps muscles.  The closer the muscle groups the greater the indirect effect.

To gain muscle mass from your workouts, it’s critical that your routine be well balanced.  Most of the major muscle groups should be included.  The greatest focus needs be placed on training the largest body parts.  This makes sure that the indirect effect throughout the entire body is at a maximum.

So, what’s the best way to accomplish this? Conventional barbell equipment or exercise machines?   Without a doubt, barbells have several advantages.  Unless you can find an exercise machine that compensates for their disadvantages, you should use barbell equipment whenever possible.

Almost all exercise machines are less productive then barbells.  They provide fewer muscle gains than barbells.  A significant disadvantage of exercise machines is their use of guided resistance.  This prevents you from moving freely in any direction.  A barbell allows freedom of movement.  This type of restriction often reduces the effectiveness of many key exercises.

Using pulleys to redirect resistance often makes the performance of an exercise more convenient.  However, it rarely makes it more effective.  Occasionally, a machine offers an exercise that is equivalent to that of a barbell.  But, more often than not, the machine is far worse.

Occasionally, there is an advantage in using exercise machines.  If they redirect resistance in a useful way, then they can prove to be very useful.  Lat pull downs and leg presses are good examples of this. They are both practical and effective exercise machines.  In general, however, most machines are frequently less effective than barbell exercises.

I understand the push towards machines in gyms.  They provide greater convenience and improved appearance.  The majority of health clubs have the interest of their members at heart. Unfortunately, the exercise machine trend is having a dramatic effect on the results of individuals wishing to achieve rapid muscular gains.

The vast majority of individuals, who join gyms, fail to achieve their bodybuilding goals.  They often give up out of pure frustration. Exercise machines can’t be blamed for every such failure.  However, they can certainly be blamed for at least some of them.

Forcing in as many pieces exercise equipment as possible seems to be the goal of many commercial gyms today.  Providing their members with maximum possible variety is the main game.  Although this practice may be helpful from a commercial stand point, it leaves very few alternatives for those seeking serious muscle gains.

Do I have a strong bias towards barbell and dumbbell training?  No.  I have a strong bias towards what works.  If you want to know the fastest way to build muscle in the shortest possible time. Then without a doubt, using barbell equipment is most definitely the way to go.