Whether you make a beeline for the dumbbells when you get to the gym or you bounce around from machine to machine, there’s one thing we know: Strength training has numerous benefits, leading to stronger bones and muscles, better balance, and maintenance of a healthy weight. But if you ever wonder where you should be spending your time during a sweat session — with free weights or on weight machines — look no further. Yes, both free weights and machines will work many of the same muscles. But when you’re comparing apples to apples, free weights work more muscles than machines do. Think about this: When you perform a dumbbell shoulder press, not only are your shoulders engaged, but so are your core, traps, and triceps, as your whole upper body works to stabilize you. In a shoulder press machine, a fixed range of motion guides the weight up and down, eliminating the need for that extra stabilization on your end. Here, the majority of the work falls to your shoulders.