Isolation Exercises vs. Compound Exercises

An introduction to isolation and compound exercises 

Isolation versus compound exercises - this is part of a debate that has gone on in the world of fitness, muscles, body building and gym since the dawn of the dumbbell. Some say that compound exercise is the way to go and isolation is a waste of time. Some believe that a combination of the two is the best way to build muscle and tone up.

Many of the strongest athletes are known to swear by compound exercise such as dumbbell lunges as well as squats. On the other hand, some of the most famous bodybuilders spend most of their training time using isolation exercises such as dumbbell flies and standing barbell curls (something we will explore a little later). Personal trainers will often recommend combinations of the two for functional and rehabilitation training programs. But what it all comes down to is the fact that the exercises you choose are dependent on your goals.

The main difference between the two types of exercises is the amount of muscle being used.

Isolation exercises focus on a specific muscle group with little input from other muscles. A compound exercise focuses on a variety of muscle groups being used through one movement. For example, a seated bicep curl is an example of an isolation exercise as it only uses the biceps to lift the weight and one joint for movement, being the elbow joint, on the other hand, a bench press uses both the elbow and shoulder joints for movements and targets the pectorals, shoulders and triceps, making it a compound exercise.

In order to put an end to this debate, we decided to write this article wherein we will explore all you need to know about isolation and compound exercises, what they mean, what they are, what benefits they have and more.