Whether you lift weights or use machines, your jump height doesn’t change much—so neither one is clearly better for building leg power in healthy adults.

52

Pro

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Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

52

Community contributions welcome

52

Effect of free-weight vs. machine-based strength training on maximal strength, hypertrophy and jump performance – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2023 Aug 15

This study compared lifting weights with barbells versus using machines and found that both ways improve jumping ability equally — so neither is better than the other for getting stronger in your legs.

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

Effect of free-weight vs. machine-based strength training on maximal strength, hypertrophy and jump performance – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Score: 52

DOI: 10.1186/s13102-023-00713-4

Similar Assertions

Whether you lift weights the old-fashioned way or use machines, both ways will help you get stronger, build muscle, and jump higher — so you can pick whichever you like better.

52

0

76%

Whether you lift weights the old-fashioned way or use machines, you’ll gain the same amount of strength and muscle size—if you’re doing the same exercises and you’re a healthy adult between 18 and 60.

52

0

71%

When it comes to building upper-body strength, machines might give you a little more gain than free weights, but for your legs, both work about the same.

0

52

71%