Useful in limited applications

Bicep curls can be very beneficial, but like most things in life they are best done in moderation, which is just one reason you should think twice before spending any significant amount of cash on a bicep curl machine.

Free weight bicep curls vs. machine bicep curls

Free weight curls - Imagine you are in a weight room. You walk over to the free weight stand, pick up a set of 10 lb dumbbells and get ready to work your biceps. Just picking up the weights you’ve added 20 lbs to your body. Immediately your legs, lower back, abs and more have to step up their game to handle the extra weight and keep you balanced. Every time you flex your arms and lift the weight, your body has to compensate with its stabilizer muscles. Since your shoulders are supporting your arms, they are also working, as are your forearms, wrists and hands. As you lower the dumbbell, triceps kick in to control the movement. Obviously dumbbell curls work more than just the biceps.

Machine curls - The first step you take when using this type of machine is taking a seat, which frees your legs and core up from having to support any extra weight, or even your own body weight for that matter. Right off the bat you’ve eliminated several supporting muscle groups from the equation. Next you rest your upper arm or arms on the pad and grasp the handles. You’ve now made sure that no extra muscles have to work to support your arm, so the move is only targeting the biceps.

Which exercise sounds more beneficial to you?

What bicep curl machines can be good for

In general as long as strength training exercises aren’t dangerous and they do work some muscles, they aren’t all bad. So bicep machines do have a purpose, but because of price and limitations, they are best left in health club circuits and weight rooms, where they can help beginners perfect their form and keep people rehabbing injuries working out safely. The same goes for preacher curl benches, which allow you to use free weights, but still provide a seat and arm rest.

The bottom line

If bicep curl equipment comes attached to a home gym at no extra cost, by all means use it to help perfect your form for free weight curls. But if you are thinking about a stand-alone machine or spending more on a home gym to get the bicep curl attachment, you’re money would be better spent on a set of dumbbells.