The dumbbell, a type of free weight, is a piece of equipment used in weight training. It is usually used individually and/or in pairs, with one in each hand.
History
The forerunner of the dumbbell, halteres, were used in
ancient Greece as lifting weights
and also as weights for the ancient Greek version of the
long jump.
A kind of dumbbell was also used in India for more than a millennium, shaped like a club – so it was named
Indian club.
The design of the "Meel", as the club was referred to, can be seen as a halfway point between a
barbell and a dumbbell. It was generally used in pairs, in workouts by
wrestlers, bodybuilders, sports players, and others wishing to increase strength and muscle size.
Etymology
The term "dumbbell" or "dumb bell" or "dumb-bell" originated in
Stuart period England. In 1711 the poet
Joseph Addison mentioned exercising with a "dumb bell" in an essay published in
The Spectator.
Although Addison elsewhere in the same publication describes having used equipment similar to the modern understanding of dumbbells, according to sport historian Jan Todd, the form of the first dumbbells remains unclear.[ Oxford dictionary definition and etymology]
Types
By the early 17th century, the familiar shape of the dumbbell, with two equal weights attached to a handle, had appeared.
There are currently three main types of dumbbell:
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Fixed-weight dumbbells are Wrist weights created in a dumbbell shape. Inexpensive varieties consist of cast iron, sometimes coated with rubber or neoprene for comfort, and even cheaper versions consist of a rigid plastic shell that is filled with concrete.
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Adjustable dumbbells consist of a metal bar whose centre portion is often engraved with a crosshatch pattern (knurling) to improve grip. are slid onto the outer portions of the dumbbell and secured with clips or collars. Shown to the right is a "spinlock" dumbbell, whose ends are threaded to accept large nuts as collars. Alternatively, a dumbbell may have smooth ends with plates being secured by a sprung collar.
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Plate-loaded (adjustable) dumbbells (a.k.a. loadable dumbbells)
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Spin-lock
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Spring collar clips
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Compression ring collar
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Ironmaster quick-lock
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Selectorized (adjustable) dumbbells are adjustable dumbbells that allow you to easily alter the weight or number of plates while the dumbbells are resting in the stand. This is accomplished through controlling the amount of plates that follow the handle when lifted, for as by turning a dial or sliding a selector pin, rather than physically adding or removing plates. This makes it simple to adjust the weight of the dumbbell between exercises, and the stand is typically used to hold extra weights that aren't required for a certain exercise. There are different types of mechanism:
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Block type
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Dial type
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Glide type
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Twist type
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2-in-1 dumbbell/barbell
Variations
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Thomas Inch dumbbell, also known as "172" ( handle, weighs )
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Millennium dumbbell ( handle, weighs )
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Circus dumbbells: historically used in traveling circus acts, these dumbbells have exaggerated ends and wider handles, and just like normal dumbbells, come in various weights and sizes.
See also
External links
