Why Do Personal Trainers Prefer Dumbbells for Clients?
Personal trainers deal with many clients with different abilities, ages, strengths and weaknesses every single day. So it makes sense that there is a need for a versatile tool to exercise with, that’s where the dumbbell comes in.
In this blog, we will explore the question ‘Why do personal trainers prefer dumbbells for clients?’
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Which is better for progression? Dumbbells or machines?
Although progression can be defined differently by anyone in this context, for the sake of clarity, we will define progression for this question, as strength and size improvements.
Machines – How do they help progression?
Machines help progression as they generally isolate the specific muscle group being targeted. This means, if your specific goal is to have a bigger and stronger chest for example, isolating your chest via machines can allow you to focus on that specifically.
Tracking progressive overload (how much weight you can move in each set) over a series of months can show you how much your chest has improved in strength, and a before & after picture can show if your size has improved.
Although machines can help progression, if they are your sole focus, you actually have the chance of disturbing the balance of your body. An extreme example can be isolating your chest but not training your shoulders or triceps, (or not training them as hard) this means that although your chest may be the size and strength you are after, it may overcompensate for the overlooked muscles, which can result in injury.
Dumbbells – how do they help progression?
Dumbbells aid progression in a more holistic and functional way, due to the fact that most if not all the exercises done are ‘free weight’. This means that aside from a primary muscle being targeted, other muscles can be stimulated to a lesser degree at the same time.
Using the chest example again, a flat-bench dumbbell press will stimulate the chest mostly, with the triceps, shoulders, and abdominals receiving some stimulation. That’s four areas being stimulated through one exercise, all because of using a dumbbell! Here’s a deeper look for this example:
- The shoulders, mainly the front deltoids, are stimulated from the pushing movement and balance required to hold and manoeuvre the dumbbells smoothly (not shaking).
- Triceps are stimulated due to the pushing movement itself, supporting the chest.
- Abdominals (if being focused on) help to reinforce the balance required when pushing the weight as well as bringing it down.
The only main concern for dumbbells is the user’s concentration. Dumbbells can be dropped which can lead to injury. This is why a personal trainer should not only teach a client how to lift weights and exercise, but how to lift and place weights safely without injuring themselves or others.
Do personal trainers prefer dumbbells for clients?
Dumbbells may be the preferred choice for personal trainers and their clients, but is very specific to the goals of the client themselves. That being said, generally, dumbbells are versatile pieces of equipment that can be used regardless of the goal in mind.
Personal trainers opt for dumbbells in a lot of cases due to:
- Being easier to handle
- Can train core and general balance inadvertently during certain exercises.
- They can support unilateral training.
- Weights can range from extremely light to heavy, catering for clients with various strength capabilities.
- If the client trains at a busy time, and has a limited timeframe to train, making a dumbbell specific workout can allow the trainer to prepare in advance, negating the need to wait to use weights or machines.
Which helps me practically, dumbbells or machines?
When it comes to your general day to day, dumbbells are likely to support you practically more than machines.
This is simply due to the core and balance strengthening that comes with dumbbell training. In addition, most dumbbell exercises can train secondary muscles outside the primary muscle targeted.
For example, a dumbbell chest press would naturally target the chest, but also stimulates the shoulders and triceps. Whereas most machines will only target the chest muscles.
Whether your job involves heavy lifting, or you’re cleaning/moving things around your house, dumbbell training can help to support these functional movements.
Should all of my workouts have dumbbells in them?
This depends entirely on your routine. Dumbbells are so versatile that they can generally be used in any and all of your workouts, whether you’re training your back, arms, legs, chest, abdominals etc.
Even for sport-specific workouts, the usability of the dumbbell is only limited to the imagination of the user, and their capabilities, of course.
When should a personal trainer not use dumbbells for a client?
Personal trainers should conduct assessments on their client’s health, goals, and capabilities rather than going straight into using dumbbells, of course.
In most cases, dumbbells can be used, however, under very specific circumstances, like the one below, it should be avoided if:
- The client is not able to grip the dumbbell without dropping it
- They have a condition or injury issue which a dumbbell may make worse.
- The client feels pain during exercise (different to the ‘burn’ of exercise).
- The client has compromised core strength or is physically incapable of using them properly due to limited foundational strength.
- If a client genuinely dislikes using dumbbells or finds them uncomfortable, a good trainer should respect their preference and find alternative exercises that achieve similar results.
Does using a barbell or dumbbell change how a personal trainer approaches a client’s training?
Yes, this directly influences the exercises that should be done. Regardless of this, trainers should always:
Conduct a thorough assessment:
Understand the client’s medical history, fitness level, goals, and any existing limitations.
Prioritise proper form:
Ensure the client can execute movements with correct technique before adding external load.
Progress gradually:
Start with appropriate resistance and gradually increase the challenge as the client gets stronger and more skilled.
Listen to the client:
Pay attention to their feedback regarding pain, discomfort, or difficulty.
Be adaptable:
Be ready to modify or substitute exercises based on the client’s needs on any given day.
Where to find dumbbells for training
Upgrade your training gear with Maxx Pro Boxing dumbbells—trusted by personal trainers and boxers for quality, versatility, and lasting performance.
Our mission is to make sporting accessible for everyone. To achieve this, we offer a range of products at various price points to suit every budget. Whether you are sourcing items for at-home or looking to fill a gym space, we have got you covered.
In our pledge to make sports enjoyable, we also share lots of handy advice and articles via our blog, as we want to help as many people as possible join the world of sports. Boxing is our main passion, but we know a thing or two about lots of other sports.
In this blog, we hope to have answered the question ‘Why do personal trainers prefer dumbbells for clients?’
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