Benefits of Barbells

Barbells are a valuable tool in the arsenal of a person who wants to gain strength efficiently and safely. Increasing the weight gradually over a period of time will tear down muscle tissue and then rebuild it, ultimately making you stronger. Because you add weight progressively with free weights, you don't have to add repetitions and lengthen your workout. Exercise experts also point to several other benefits of barbells.

Barbells provide versatility, particularly over weight machines. Each type of weight machine is designed to help you perform one or two movements, and each limits the resistance you use for the movements. Barbells, on the other hand, can help you strengthen virtually every muscle in the body with a wider range of resistance. If you work out at home, a set of barbells make more sense -- and costs less -- than an assortment of machines. They also are easy to store compared with many other kinds of resistance equipment.

Using barbells is simple, and learning the basic lifts won't take very long, fitness professional John Sifferman says on his website, Physical Living. He adds that "the weight is fixed and stable, so the tool itself is less likely to deviate from a normal range of motion." With heavy weights, such deviation could cause an injury. Most barbells are built sturdily, so wear and tear should not become an issue.

With barbells, you always can add more weight as you become stronger and continue to use the same steel shaft. Unlike dumbbells, who only go up to a certain weight, barbells can take on as much weight as you can lift. Being able to add weight is important because performing an exercise to the point of fatigue aids muscle growth and builds strength. As your body becomes stronger, you need more resistance, in the form of added weight, to progress toward your goal.

Because you want to impart an even load across the spine when squatting, a barbell fulfills the need. They also help you perfect dynamic power lifts because barbells require the entire body to function as a coordinated unit. As a result, users generate power. In addition, your legs, which hold the largest muscles in the body, require a lot of resistance to grow -- something barbells provide. The squat and the deadlift are key barbell exercises for growing and contouring the lower body.