Resistance bands vs. Dumbbells

[Chuckanut]

Now that my knee is well on the way to recovery from replacement surgery it's time to consider improving my exercise routine.

It's important that they be easy and quick to use. I am thinking of a 30 minute strength building routine four days a week.

I have been considering getting a set of dumbbells or resistance bands. I am wondering about the pluses and minuses of each. If you have experiences with one or both, I would love to hear what you think.

 

[braumeister]

I like and use both.

Neither is an expensive purchase so I would say get a set of bands and a pair of dumbbells with just 5 pound weights. Try them out (tons of good exercise tips on YouTube) and see how you like using them. You can easily add more weights to the dumbbells later if you want.

 

[aaronc879]

In your case, with the knee replacement, I would suggest not carrying any more weight than needed. Resistance bands would be safer for your new joint.

 

[badatmath]

I would ask your physical therapist what would be best for your situation.

 

[W2R]

I have done a little with the weight machines at the gym since my surgery (which was about a month after yours). I keep intending to do more!

Right now I have been mainly focusing on the machines which are cardio for most people I guess; the stationary bike, the seated elliptical, and the Nustep crosstrainer. Since my leg muscles were so weak after surgery, these have been helping my leg strength as well as cardio.

If it gets to the point where my legs are strong enough that they are no longer increasing in strength with these cardio machines, then I'll spend less of my gym time with the cardio machines and more with the weight machines I suppose. So much of weight lifting (in general, whether machines or free weights) seems to focus perhaps more on the upper body, but there are weight machines that exercise the legs and knees and can be set to very low weights to begin with. And then, my upper body could use some strength workouts too. I do lift heavy things around the house now so there's that.

I've never tried the resistance bands, although I know they are inexpensive. I guess I feel like the weight machines are a more controlled and predictable lift. I have 1, 2, and 3 pound dumbbells but I can't figure out how to get much benefit from them for my legs. My legs are still too weak to use the strap on ankle weights quite yet.

How about climbing stairs? I have noticed that really is quite a workout for me these days. I climbed up a flight of stairs briskly last Saturday and it took me two days before I felt human again. OK it was to the second floor of my gym, which has 20-30 foot ceilings on the first floor, so that's my excuse. I plan to try that again in a few days.

I love that after all we went through, we are now talking about our plans to increase workouts and strength!!

 

[easysurfer]

I've used both in the past. The bands weren't exactly the popular ones but similar as they were part of a machine. But eventually they broke so now I use dumbells.

I prefer dumbells but both worked for me.

 

[eytonxav]

I use both for shoulder maintenance and rebab when injuries occur. I am sure both have a place for leg/knee strengthening as well.

 

[Music Lover]

My preference is for dumbbells as I think they provide options that bands don't, but either will work when used correctly so pick the ones you like the best and that you are more likely to use on a regular basis.

Also, I always take at least a day of rest when lifting (sometimes 2 or 3 days) to give the muscles a chance to recover.

 

[Bir48die]

I do free weights and machines at the gym. Bought resistance bands with four different weight designations. Take them on vacation. Work great

 

[T-Minus]

Depends. I own the Bodylastics resistance bands and have access to dumbbells, barbells etc. at my gym. For travel or a home workout, the bands are great - plus they are are much more “transportable”. For certain exercises, I prefer the dumbbells/barbells - but moving a rack of these from point a to point b would be a real hassle. Both have their strengths and you can accomplish a decent workout with either.

 

[T-Minus]

...I have 1, 2, and 3 pound dumbbells but I can't figure out how to get much benefit from them for my legs. My legs are still too weak to use the strap on ankle weights quite yet.

How about climbing stairs? I have noticed that really is quite a workout for me these days. I climbed up a flight of stairs briskly last Saturday and it took me two days before I felt human again. OK it was to the second floor of my gym, which has 20-30 foot ceilings on the first floor, so that's my excuse. I plan to try that again in a few days...

Hey W2R -

There are a lot of body weight exercises you can do to work your legs...with no need for a gym:

https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/best-bodyweight-exercises-legs

https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19530404/leg-workout-without-weights

https://www.livestrong.com/article/169314-how-to-build-leg-muscles-at-home/

Some of the more difficult exercises can be modified to help you get started. If you buy a cheap (i.e. < $10) leg band, you can then add all kinds of glute exercises too:

https://www.self.com/gallery/resistance-band-butt-workout-you-can-do-anywhere

 

[Music Lover]

I have 1, 2, and 3 pound dumbbells but I can't figure out how to get much benefit from them for my legs. My legs are still too weak to use the strap on ankle weights quite yet.

How about climbing stairs? I have noticed that really is quite a workout for me these days. I climbed up a flight of stairs briskly last Saturday and it took me two days before I felt human again. OK it was to the second floor of my gym, which has 20-30 foot ceilings on the first floor, so that's my excuse. I plan to try that again in a few days.

IMO, ankle weights provide little benefit and will alter your gait in a negative way.

Climbing stairs will be more beneficial and is also a good cardio workout. Carry a pair of dumbbells up and down the stairs to get an arm and core workout at the same time.

 

[Chuckanut]

Any recommendations for a good set of adjustable dumbbells? I notice that prices can vary from $130 to $400. They have to be easy to use or else I won't use them, so I am willing to pay extra for that. But, $400!!! That seems like a lot.

 

[Nemo2]

I've never been called a resistance band, but I do/did love stair climbing.

 

[Badger]

I use both because there are some exercises that lend themselves better to weights and others are more convenient with better control with resistance bands. My weights are 5, 10, and 15 pounds in pairs. They are neoprene covered and purchased at either Walmart or Academy Sports for about $1 a pound. I use my weights on the porch where I have eye screws in the wall studs at 3 different levels so the resistance bands can attach by carabiner clips to make them quick to move. The resistance bands were given to me by the physical therapist and then added to from a purchase from Amazon for a set of 5 for about $20. Other than that I ride my recumbent trike about 12 - 15 miles a day for my legs. An inexpensive beach bicycle would do just as well.


These were all purchased over the years for home PT from 3 back surgeries, a knee replacement, 2 broken wrists, and 2 rotator cuff surgeries so I could continue with the same PT program at home.


Cheers!

 

[Aerides]

If you have a Dicks anywhere near you, check if they have this adjustable dumbell set in stock: (and if they don't, just stalk them as most weight eq is in and out of stock these days):

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/...set-16fgeufg40lbdjdbsdmb/16fgeufg40lbdjdbsdmb

It adjusts from 8lbs to 20 each (or 40 if you fully loaded one), so a lot cheaper than the fancy adjustable ones like from Bowflex. Or heck you can start with just the plates at 3lb and 5lb and go up from there.

I've never used resistance bands but I don't think you can upgrade the resistance as nicely as you can with free weights. And you need progressively increase weight if strength building is your goal.

 

[Big_Hitter]

resistance bands are great for rehab, not for building muscle

i like kettlebells and TRX bands myself

 

[audreyh1]

I get more use out of dumbells. But get advice from your rehabber.

 

[Amethyst]

Agree about the gym leg machines, because of the adjustable weights. In fact I missed them so much, I've started going back to the gym, only an hour each time and masked, just to use the weight machines.

I've never gotten comfortable with resistance bands. They were prescribed during my shoulder rehab (I had shoulder impingement, that took forever to resolve) but found using bands to be unintuitive and inconvenient.

.

there are weight machines that exercise the legs and knees and can be set to very low weights to begin with. although I know they are inexpensive. I guess I feel like the weight machines are a more controlled and predictable lift. I have 1, 2, and 3 pound dumbbells but I can't figure out how to get much benefit from them for my legs. My legs are still too weak to use the strap on ankle weights quite yet.

D

 

[Spudd]

Any recommendations for a good set of adjustable dumbbells? I notice that prices can vary from $130 to $400. They have to be easy to use or else I won't use them, so I am willing to pay extra for that. But, $400!!! That seems like a lot.

We have the Bowflex ones. They are amazing. Expensive, but so easy to change the weight quickly. I love them.

 

[Ronstar]

We have the Bowflex ones. They are amazing. Expensive, but so easy to change the weight quickly. I love them.

+1. I love my Bowflex dumbbells also. I've never used bands.

 

[Chuckanut]

Agree about the gym leg machines, because of the adjustable weights. In fact I missed them so much, I've started going back to the gym, only an hour each time and masked, just to use the weight machines.

I've never gotten comfortable with resistance bands. They were prescribed during my shoulder rehab (I had shoulder impingement, that took forever to resolve) but found using bands to be unintuitive and inconvenient.

The thing I don't like about the bands is that the resistance varies as you use them.

 

[razztazz]

I don't want to dump on the exercise bands. I see some people here use them and I have tried them myself. For me they were too unstable. But I kept thinking of that Senator from Nevada. Harry Reid...? Remember in his final days he was wearing those "Roy Orbison" glasses instead of his more familiar granny glasses? That's because he was working out with the bands and one snapped on him (or, possibly slipped suddenly from his grip or anchor point) and slapped him in the eyeball and he almost lost it. I'll stay with the dumbbells. That way the worst I can do is drop it on my foot.

 

[badatmath]

But I kept thinking of that Senator from Nevada. Harry Reid...? Remember in his final days he was wearing those "Roy Orbison" glasses instead of his more familiar granny glasses? That's because he was working out with the bands and one snapped on him (or, possibly slipped suddenly from his grip or anchor point) and slapped him in the eyeball and he almost lost it. I'll stay with the dumbbells. That way the worst I can do is drop it on my foot.

Agree. Wear eye protection at least.

 

[Amethyst]

I broke a resistance band during physical therapy, and the therapists started calling me Wonder Woman. Actually I think the poor band was just worn out from patients using it!

I don't want to dump on the exercise bands. I see some people here use them and I have tried them myself. For me they were too unstable. But I kept thinking of that Senator from Nevada. Harry Reid...? Remember in his final days he was wearing those "Roy Orbison" glasses instead of his more familiar granny glasses? That's because he was working out with the bands and one snapped on him (or, possibly slipped suddenly from his grip or anchor point) and slapped him in the eyeball and he almost lost it. I'll stay with the dumbbells. That way the worst I can do is drop it on my foot.