Fitness -- Dumbbells or Weights Machines?

Weight machines are designed to limit your range of motion to the safe zones, therefore limiting your chances of injury. However, they are expensive to own at home, take up too much room, and are usually germy at the gym.

The advantage of free weights (dumbbells) is that they engage your core and force you to continuously balance. The challenge with free weights is getting the right form.

The best compromise I've found is to take a class at the gym with an instructor who will correct your form. Keep taking the class until you have muscle memory of the correct form.

Switch it up sometimes though, just to challenge your muscles a little. However, take it easy at the beginning of the switch to minimize injury.