Get Functionally Fit With Compound Exercises

If you’re into resistance training, you’re probably already incorporating compound exercises into your routine! Compound exercises are movements that engage multiple muscle groups and joints at the same time, making them effective for overall strength and functional fitness.

For example, if you’re lifting weights and doing a standard bicep curl, that’s an isolated exercise, but if you were to perform a squat, you’re engaging your quads, hamstrings, glutes, lower back and core, making it a compound exercise.

Here are a few examples of compound exercises and what muscle groups they target:

• Deadlifts: Works the hamstrings, glutes, lower back, traps and core.

• Pull-Ups: Engages the lats, biceps, shoulders, and core.

• Lunges: Targets the quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves, and core.

• Rows: Engages the upper back, shoulders, biceps, and core.

There are multiple benefits to incorporating compound exercises into your workout routine!

• Enhanced Functional Fitness: A lot of compound exercises mimic real-life movements like lifting, pushing, pulling and squatting which helps with functional strength and stability. 

• Time Efficient Workout: Compound exercises allow you to engage multiple muscle groups in one movement, making workouts more time-efficient. 

• Increased Calorie Burn: Working multiple muscle groups together requires more energy, leading to a higher calorie burn! 

• Enhanced Balance: Performing a compound exercise requires the coordination of multiple joints and muscles which can improve overall balance. 

• Better Cardiovascular Health: Compound exercises get your blood pumping a lot more than isolated exercises do, so they're good for heart health and improving endurance. 

• Increased Strength: Compound exercises stimulate greater muscle growth and strength development compared to isolated exercises. 

• Versatility & Adaptability: Compound exercises can be adapted to different fitness levels and goals. You can vary the weight intensity to cater to your personal goals. 

Compound exercises can lead to significant improvements in strength, functional fitness and overall health. You don’t have to lift weights (although we think you should) to reap the benefits, and you don’t have to be an expert!

Isolated exercises are still effective, but compound exercises are ideal to support mobility throughout life. You’ll burn more calories in a shorter amount of time too!