LAGREE SPRINGS VS WEIGHTS
VARIABLE TENSION VS STATIC TENSION
At Lagree Fitness, the science behind our method and machines is persistently evolving—and that is because Lagree Fitness is altering how fitness is imagined, pursued, and achieved. One of the major elements that differentiates Lagree Fitness from any other type of exercise (in this case, we will draw specific differences between Lagree Fitness and weightlifting) is spring resistance vs free-weight resistance.

THE SIMILARITIES
Both spring resistance and free-weight resistance (produced when training with barbells and dumbbells) have the following properties in common:
1. Both provide resistance
2. Both allow for free range of motion
3. Both allow for variable speeds of movements
4. Both stimulate muscle and bone mineral density growth
These four properties are critical to enjoying the benefits of effective resistance training programs. Despite the similarities between spring resistance and free-weight resistance, however, many fitness enthusiasts assume free weights are superior, but this could not be further from the truth.
WHAT IS
SIMILAR
THE DIFFERENCES
In addition to the similarities spring resistance training shares with free weight resistance, there are several benefits to spring resistance training that the latter does not offer.
- Spring Work on Both Vertical and Horizontal Planes
- Allows Change in Muscle Emphasis
- Provides Continuous Tension
- Offers Linear Variable Resistance
- Prevents a person from “cheating”
SPRING RESISTANCE CAN WORK ON BOTH VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL PLANES
Unlike free weights, spring resistance does not rely on gravity to provide resistance. This increases its potential for use in more functional movement patterns that mimic both everyday activities and sport-specific activities. Because free weights rely on gravity, they can only provide resistance in a vertical plane—the direction of gravity. This means that if an exercise with a free weight is performed on a horizontal plane, such as moving a dumbbell from one side of the body to the other, there is no resistance to that movement. With springs, on the other hand, resistance is also formed when doing exercises in a horizontal plane.
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SPRING RESISTANCE ALLOWS CHANGE IN MUSCLE EMPHASIS
Because spring resistance does not rely on gravity to provide resistance, it is possible to alter the emphasis placed on the muscles during certain exercises. This is made possible by changing the direction of the pull.
The ability to change muscle emphasis is important for those who want to target specific muscles, either for aesthetic reasons or to add strength for sports competitions. It is also important for those with injuries, as shifting the force more to certain muscles can help protect certain associated joints. For example, greater hamstring emphasis during squatting or stepping exercises helps to protect certain structures around the knee. This is difficult to accomplish with free weights because, as previously stated, they require the direction of force to be vertical due to their reliance on gravity for resistance.

SPRING RESISTANCE PROVIDES CONTINUOUS TENSION
Because spring resistance does not rely on gravity, it provides continuous tension which increases the rate at which muscles can be trained.
When a dumbbell is lifted in any direction other than straight up and down, the tension on the muscle can actually be removed at certain points in the range of motion. For example, when doing a bicep curl with a dumbbell, as the dumbbell curls up towards the shoulder, at the very top of the movement, the dumbbell is literally falling towards the shoulder. This means that the tension on the bicep has been removed because the dumbbell is no longer being lifted up against gravity by the bicep. When doing a bicep curl with spring resistance, the tension is present throughout the entire range of motion because the spring provides resistance both up and down due to its innate properties.

SPRING RESISTANCE OFFERS LINEAR VARIABLE RESISTANCE
Unlike spring resistance, free-weight resistance does not offer linear variable resistance. This means that as the range of motion of the exercise increases, the resistance provided by the spring equipment increases. For example, when doing a bicep curl, as the hand is curled up toward the shoulder, the resistance of the elastic tubing increases. This is due to the physical properties of the spring itself. As its length increases (from being stretched), it provides more resistance. One of the benefits of this is that as the range of motion increases and the resistance increases, thus the number of muscle fibers being used in the exercising muscles increases as well. The more muscle fibers being used, the greater the adaptations in muscle strength that can be achieved with the training program. This benefit is not offered by free-weight resistance.

SPRING RESISTANCE PREVENTS A PERSON FROM
In short, spring resistance prevents the user from “cheating” during the exercise being performed. This is a critical benefit addressing a common practice seen during the use of training with free weights. Cheating involves the use of momentum to initially move the weight. Once the weight has built up momentum, the muscle fibers do not need to be maximally activated to continue moving the weight throughout the remaining range of motion of the exercise. This is because the physics of momentum have taken over to move the weight.

THE SUPERIORITY OF SPRING RESISTANCE TO FREE-WEIGHT RESISTANCE
Research performed on spring resistance suggests that not only does spring resistance offer similar benefits to free weight resistance, but this form of exercise contains several benefits that outweigh (*pun intended*) those of free weights. A program using spring resistance can provide similar benefits to a program that uses free-weight resistance, such as increased muscle strength, increased muscle tone/size, and lower body fat. This changes body composition in dramatic, noticeable, and lasting ways.
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NOTE