Are Compound Exercises Better Than Isolation Exercises?
Compound exercises are movements that involve multiple muscles or muscle groups at once.
For example; the squat, deadlift, and bench-press.
On the other hand, isolation exercises are movements that target one specific muscle group, with minimal input from other muscle groups.
For example, a bicep curl or a tricep push-down.
Most athletes looking to build muscle and gain strength/power will prioritize compound movements as they allow for easier and more consistent weight increase.
This is because they incorporate multiple muscle groups at once, allowing the body to cope with a greater load.
This then makes it easier to apply progressive overload, one of the most proven methods of training for muscle/strength gain.
Isolation exercises are more often used to build up lagging body parts in bodybuilding or strength weak muscles to assist in bigger compound movements for strength training.
Both types of exercises are important for optimal muscle building and strength training.