Compounds & Power-lifts Vs Isolation?

[keepingitbig]

Do you think more compound movements & powerlifts are better vs isolation for muscle building growth? Your thoughts.

 

[REDZULU2003]

Isolations from my experience were more for specialising on a body part and keeping it seperate from other smaller groups of muslces hence the name Isolation movements. Compound are great for mass gains and strength as they involve many groups of muscles and tax the CNS in the body for adaptation to take place. Movements such as the deadlift and squat are all compounds and all known to create massive anabolic response in the body. Compound movements you can lift more due to this synergistic linking up of muscle groups VS Isolation in which because of the isolation you cannot lift as more but instead obviously isolate that muscle for special work.

So Bicep curls or Preacher curls? I pick preachers every time because they also involve the frontal deltoid in the movement or you can do chin ups palms to you with a weight belt attached which for me is better hitting the biceps. You hit the bicep hard but also the stabilising muscles have to work such as the shoulders which is more natural than a pure isolation exercise.

 

[MAXAMEYES]

Are you looking to develop/refine one specific muscle/muscle group/set of muscles? Then isolation is your answer. Rehab from an injury? Isolation. Balancing asymmetric development...again isolation.

But if you're looking for total body health, fitness (aerobic, endurance, recovery), coordination or better kinesiology (how your body moves efficiently) then compound is the way to go.

Think of it this way: you got ONE body, everything's connected. Not very much in real life is a pure, isolated movement, why should your exercises be?

 

[shr0om_7]

Compound is better for muscle growth hands down, no contest.

You should create a routine with compound movements as the center and a few isolation movements as "fillers".

Isolation's should be used to bring up body parts that are lacking thus "isolation".

 

[REDZULU2003]

Late addition and just for this thread which will answer better than anyone can from the legendary late Arthur Jones. This thread deals with Compound exercises VS specialisation.

 

[TheStick3]

Compound exercises are definitely better if you're looking to build both size and functional strength.