Q: My gym only has weight machines, but my best friend works out at a gym with machines and free weights. What are the major advantages of strength machines? - R.L., Laramie, WY

A: Weight machines offer several key advantages. First of all, they offer the safest way to exercise with weights. On quality machines, the heavy weight stacks are held by pulleys and cables and locked into a track. If you can no longer lift the load, or for some reason you have to let go, you can do so without fear of having the weights come crashing down on you. Machines also offer muscle isolation. Some machines are better able than free weights to isolate muscle groups that you may want to exercise. Machine workouts also offer efficiency of time and space. Since you can perform as many as 70 different weight routines on some quality multi-station machines just by moving a cable or pulling a pin, your time is spent exercising rather than taking off and putting weight plates back on the bar.

Machines also enforce proper lifting patterns. As you push or pull the weights, the machine guides you along a predetermined, fixed track, making it impossible to develop an improper lifting form.

Source: fitlinxx.com