Doms and aching from dumbbells but not machines?

[923a56712]

Been going to the gym since start of year. Mostly I use the machines at the gym as still new and push myself to failure. As its now Easter school holidays I've had to work out at home using dumbells only and I've got awful doms, which I've never had when working out at gym?! Anyone else or know why?

Different muscle groups maybe? Free weights work all sorts of extra muscles because there's all the balancing etc

Yup - my understanding is that machines are very good at isolating and JUST working one or very small groups of muscles. Whereas free weights will inevitably use the whole lot!

You'll use lots of other smaller muscles with free weights.

Are you perhaps rushing warm up/stretch when working out at home?

@Mulledjuice good point! I normally go on the rower or bike to warm up at gym!
And thanks everyone sort of makes sense really! I was wondering when I return to the gym to use machines or stick with free weights though I do like using machines for ease, I'm still a bit scared of entering the free weights section!

As others say, machines target a limited array f muscles.

Also, using dumbbells means you have to balance and lift them. They're a much more full body action.

But you should keep going with dumbbells rather than machines - try dumbbell thrusters - an excellent full body (compound) exercise, that also gives you amazing abs - if you do them correctly and heavy enough. And then get onto barbell compounds.