Can I ever use free weights at the gym?

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I have Aspergers and some physical clumsiness, my clumsiness is just another neurological disorder. So I don't know if it's something I can treat. I've tried free weights before, but I'm afraid I'm lacking the sense that tells me if what I'm doing is good form or not. I want to gain muscle the normal way, I don't want to have to rely on fixed machines our quick gimmicks forever. And my muscles have trouble keeping totally stable.

Do I really have a sense of strength at all?

Hey bud, I don't want to tell you what you should or shouldn't do anything not knowing what this other neuro disorder is.

I've got aspergers too some minor clumsiness that comes along with it but starting free weights was the best idea I ever had. A lot of weight lifting is very simple movement that doesn't take hardly any coordination at all so it's perfect for someone with AS.

I would start small and start with the basic simple exercises to get your foot in the door and add you'll learn as you go. I definitely wouldn't do cable machines unless there is some physical aliment requiring you to avoid free weights. Cable machines take a lot of the range of movement and you end up working your bigger muscles while your smaller muscles used to stabilize the (free) weight are neglected, resulting in muscle imbalances. Plus you just get way better results with free weights.

The best way to learn proper form would be to watch someone else do it that knows what they are doing, or even better yet to have them show you. Otherwise you can find plenty of instructional videos on youtube and what not. Any chance you live in Wisconsin? I'm on the lookout for a possible lifting buddy.

It's a disease/disorder called Joubert Syndrome and it's rare. I'm just concerned about sharing it because people won't understand my mild case of it, let alone everyone who has been diagnosed.

From what I've read I don't see why you couldn't especially if you have a mild case of it....but you know you're own physical limit's more anybody. Like I said most weight lifting doesn't require much coordination or balance. There's plenty of exercises you could do that wouldn't require any.

If you you have used them before without any major safety problems there really isn't a reason to not use them now. Try a simple three days a week program doing the Big 3 lifts(bench press, squat, deadlift) with at least one rest day in between. Start off with just the bar and add weight in small (5 - 10lbs) increments. That should help you build a good foundation of strength. If your gym has a power rack you can do all the exercises in that for safety.

I've used them and it's harder at first, but you get better at them as you get stronger and get used to the movements. Make sure you work out in front of a mirror and use good form and have a spotter for when you need it. I like free weights much better than I do machines. It feels like a more intense workout to me.

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
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Training for strength and body stability without free weights is a bit like training for a cycling race while using training wheels; you're missing out on a fundamentally important aspect of training. I don't know how Joubert Syndrome affects your weight training, but my advice is the same as CrazyFools; start on low weights, and consult a coach or other gym patron for help with form.

I'm an aspie, and I wouldn't exactly be a dancer even if I wasn't. But I can tell you that strength training didn't really take off for me until I learned to use free weights, and felt how much stronger my core became. And now I'm in a CrossFit club, where proper form is paramount, and I'm now realizing how much I've gotten away with raw strength making up for bad form. So do consult a trainer, and resist the urge to put on more weight until you've got the form down, at least to a reasonable degree. Good Luck!