[com2kid]

> Isn't the point that dumbbells can be a strength trainer for someone just starting out?

A good gym will have a light weight 35lb starting bar. That will be 35lb spread across two arms and your back.

You begin with that empty, no weights on it. Start out until you can lift heavier and heavier.

For people who cannot even lift that, then yes, special measures may be called for.

As others have mentioned though, the big problem with common dumbbell exercises is that there are entire muscle groups they just don't exercise, (to be fair I have read the same about some common barbell exercises), mostly involving stabilizer muscles in the back that are unglamorous but are the muscles that will help improve posture, prevent back injury, and provide support when living heavier weights.

[X-Istence]

I go to the little gym my apartment has, they have dumbbells. I will work out with dumbbells, even if people claim they are not as great. I can get a good work-out in with them.

I can still do compound movements with them, I can still train particular parts of my body, and I can train my body as a whole. I also add body weight training, I can't yet do squats with weight, push-ups, crunches, sit-ups, all those fun exercises. Dumbbells are just one of the many tools to help me get a good work-out in.

[yummyfajitas]

The turkish get up doesn't work your stabilizers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztTOn0rSMis