Analysis Version
v1
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quantitative
Analysis v1
Strong Support

If you test strength in a fair way that doesn't favor machines or free weights, both types of training give about the same strength gains.

33
Pro
0
Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

33

Community contributions welcome

33

Machines and free weight exercises: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing changes in muscle size, strength, and power.

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
Human
2022 Aug

The study found that when testing strength in a fair way that doesn’t favor machines or free weights, both types of training work about the same, just like the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Machines and free weight exercises: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing changes in muscle size, strength, and power.

Score: 33
DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12929-9

Similar Assertions

If you measure strength with a tool that doesn’t favor free weights or machines, both kinds of workouts—free weights and machines—help you get just as strong. The difference between them is so small it might just be due to chance.

33
0
83%

Using machines or free weights for strength training works about the same when it comes to building power — one isn’t really better than the other.

33
0
78%

Lifting free weights and using weight machines both make you just as strong when you test your strength in new or different ways — neither one is better than the other.

52
0
75%

Using machines or free weights for strength training leads to about the same amount of muscle growth — neither one gives you a clear edge over the other.

33
0
73%

If you want to get stronger at lifting weights like dumbbells or barbells, training with those same free weights will help you gain more strength than using machines — because your body gets better at the exact movements you practice.

33
0
72%