Compound exercises are exercises which work a group of muscles rather than targeting just one (isolating muscles).
There are several benefits to using compound exercises:
- Saves time
- Builds muscle and strength effectively
- Trains body for movements used in daily life
Examples of a compound exercises include the squat and push-up. When performing the squat, you not only work your quadriceps and glutes, but also your hamstring, calves, and lower back. A push-up works your chest, triceps, deltoids, and lower back.
Compound exercises are popular amongst bodybuilders for the effective way they build mass. Many compound exercises cause the release of testosterone which stimulates muscle growth throughout the body.
More compound exercises include:
- push-ups
- squats
- lunges
- dips
- bench presses
- deadlifts
- pull-ups
- dumbbell rows
- shoulder presses
- leg presses
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Absolutely … these exercises are very important if one wanna build a nice body…
I like to target a specific muscle group each workout. I find that works best.
I agree that compound exercises are best for each of the reasons you have listed above. However, I think it would be beneficial for whoever wrote this article to read over the literature regarding the squat, before posting it on the internet.
Studies have prooven that there is no hamstring involvement in the squat.
The joint actions involved in the squat are knee and hip extension. Since the hamstrings act to flex the knee AND they are involved in hip extension they are involved during squats.
Leigh Dunstan could you please reference the studies ‘proving’ the hamstrings are not involved in the squat.