Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash 

Whether you are a powerlifter, Olympic lifter, bodybuilder, CrossFitter, involved in a competitive sport, or you are just trying to stay in shape--there is no doubt that barbell training is certainly an asset to not only your overall fitness, but also your quality of life. Here are 5 reasons why you should be using a Barbell to train, adopted from Mark Rippetoe’s, “Starting Strength” 3rd Edition.

1. Barbells allow you to train your body in a functional manner. Barbells, unlike machines that isolate body parts, allow you to train the body as a complete system. Think about it, in what sport do you isolate ONLY your quadriceps or ONLY your hamstrings? While machines certainly have their place in a rehabilitative setting, barbells will give you more bang for your rep.
2. Barbells allow you to train your neuromuscular system. Consider the leg press machine vs. performing some variation of a barbell squat. The barbell will not only increase closed kinetic chain strength of the lower extremities, but it will also increase proprioception (balance), coordination, and core stabilization as one is having to maintain good vertical posture against gravity. 
3. Barbells provide varying degrees of skeletal load. Similar to skeletal muscle adaptation to load, bone also becomes stronger in response to resistance training against gravity. This is particularly important for women who have low bone density, are post-menopausal, and/or suffer from osteopenia or osteoporosis. 
4. The barbell is economical. There are hundreds of exercises that can be performed with a barbell, and only minimal equipment and space are required. Let’s do the math: one barbell + hundreds of exercises = a lot less money than a gym full of machines. A barbell also fits nicely in your garage or home gym.
5. Barbell training can change your life...if you know how to use it appropriately. Rippetoe states that the biggest problem in barbell training is the overwhelming majority of people using it do not know how to use it correctly. 

At Physiolete Therapy and Performance, we are committed to innovative care that empowers our clients to achieve quality results. Schedule your Rx Fitness Assessment at Physiolete if you would like to learn more about how you can improve your mechanics and efficiency with various power lifts, Olympic lifts, and other functional fitness movements. The Rx Fitness assessment includes video analysis and breakdown of movement faults related to impaired mobility, flexibility, stability, motor control, and coordination. Each assessment is analyzed, summarized, and returned to the client with a home program to improve movement faults. If you would like more information on the Rx Assessment or would like to see an example of one email us at [email protected] OR DM us directly! 

Like this article? Want to nerd out on barbell training? Get Mark Rippetoe's book here.