Are Compound Movements Actually Making You Stronger?
NOTE FROM TG: I’ll be traveling in Europe for the next ten days and figured this would be a nice opportunity to repurpose some old content that may have been missed the first time around.
1) If you didn’t read this the first time I posted it all I have to say is “pfffffft, whatever.”
2) If you did, you’re cool. And, share it……;o)
Photo Credit: Elitefts
Understandably, the title of this post suggests some nefarious agenda where my goal is to spend the next few minutes explaining why we’ve had it all wrong the entire time.
“You mean to tell us, Tony, there’s a chance compound movements don’t make people stronger?”
“What’s next: telling us water isn’t wet, the Earth isn’t round, the zombie apocalypse won’t happen?”
Relax. Deep breaths.
Just so people don’t think I’ve lost my marbles or are already tapping away on their keyboard drafting their hate mail before actually reading what I have to say below….the short answer to the title of this post is:
“Yes, I do feel compound (multi-joint) movements – think: deadlift, squat, bench press, rows, overhead midget pressing – make people into beasts, and should lay the foundation for any well-rounded strength training program.”
However, I fear many trainees (and coaches) often fall into the same trap where we’re programmed into thinking compound movements, and only compound movements, should be utilized 100% of the time…no exceptions.
A thousand years of no gainz and incessant internet trolling to the person caught using the leg curl machine or, the horror, performs a few sets of tricep kickbacks.
Shut Up
No, really…shut up.
Of COURSE compound movements make you strong(er). If you want to get strong, it only makes sense to perform those movements which will allow you to use the most weight and force the body into a state of adaptation to get strong.
Granted a lot of other things need to fall into place in order for “strong” to happen. Just because you place a barbell on your back and meander up and down doesn’t mean you’re the second coming of Ed Coan.
Technique, frequency of training, addressing weaknesses, technique, and technique consistent progressive overload all need to be taken into consideration.
What’s more, if strength is the goal – particularly with the big 3 – compound/multi-joint movements performed in low(er) rep ranges (1-5) is kind of important.
Why?
Cliff Notes Version: Lifting maximal weight has a number of effects:
1. Maximal number of motor units are recruited.
2. Fastest MU’s are activated (high-threshold motor units).
3. The discharge frequency (rate coding) is increased.
4. Activity is synchronous – both inter and intra-muscularly.
5. Potential for future hypertrophy gains (especially when you revert back to a “hypertrophy” specific training phase).
6. While some argue whether or not the research is efficacious – it goes both ways – lifting heavy things helps to increase serum Testosterone levels.
7. Girls will want to hang out with you (<=== it’s science).
But It’s Not All PRs and Butterfly Kisses
While all the above is true, focusing solely on compound movements (and lifting maximal weight all the time) does have its pitfalls.
1). There’s an inherent likelihood of increased wear and tear on the joints over time (Yes, even with “good” technique).
2). Compound movements = produce/accumulate more fatigue (particularly neural fatigue). And if it’s not managed appropriately, one may see a decrease in strength/performance over time.
And finally, something not many people consider:
3). We’re Really Good at Compensating.
You may have noticed that I drilled the idea of “technique” earlier. It’s that important.
As a coach I find many people are unable to express their true fitness/strength level due to faulty joint positions (misalignment, such as excessive lumbar extension/APT), and, honestly, not “earning the right” to increase load.
I.e., they haven’t performed enough reps at “x” weight in order to go up.
To that end, drilling technique – and respecting each individual’s anthropometry – is always going to be of paramount importance.
Due to our ability to compensate well, the likelihood you’re leaving poundages in the tank are very high.
As well, when we start talking accessory movements, I’m always in the camp which takes the approach they should generally be used to address some form of technique flaw or weakness with the main lift in question.
For Example
If someone is struggling with their deadlifts off the floor – meaning, they’re super slow – some viable accessory movements to address this would be:
1). Limiting tap-n-go reps (bouncing off the floor).
2). Deficit pulls (2-3″ elevated) to generate more quadricep recruitment.
3). More squat variations such as Safety Squat Bar squats and front squats (again, to generate more quadricep recruitment).
4). Anderson Squat – performed from a deadstart, emulating one’s deadlift stance.
Note: Notice my hip placement above. When I was pulling conventional style (the video is four years old) this variation of Anderson squat very much mirrored my deadlift stance, which carried over well.
Back To My Point
Oh yeah, my point.
Listen, it’s okay to perform isolation work or more bodybuilding-specific exercises. A more “hybrid” approach – strength and hypertrophy – is going to bode well for most people anyways.
Case in point: my bench press sucks. There are days where I’d rather wash my face with broken glass than bench press.
One of the things my coach – Greg Robins – has been implementing into my programs of late is more isolation work to address muscular issues.
Think about it: expressing strength is (mostly) about generating force. Hoisting big weights helps in this regard. However, a bigger muscle – almost always – is going to produce more force than a smaller one.
Indeed, I’ve been hammering away at my bench press technique – even implementing accessory movements like paused bench presses and Spoto Presses to address my weaknesses.
But guess what? Lately – for the past two blocks of training – I’ve been performing a TON of dumbbell chest flyes. You know, those “wimpy” things guys use to train their chest cleavage.
I feel so dirty admitting it.1
Funnily enough my bench press has seen it’s best jump in a while since incorporating more isolation type work for the pecs and triceps.
Too, my DL has gone up since tossing in some leg extensions; and I have to assume the chest flyes play a role too…;o)
Read: It’s not only about compound movements. Don’t be so dogmatic.
True, they serve as the staple for any strength-based program…but try not to neglect the importance of choosing the correct accessory work – even if it’s isolation exercises – to compliment your goals.
The internet will forgive you.
Comments for This Entry
Kayla Webster
I like the part where you said shut up. This definitely shouldn't be a question in anyone's mind!January 13, 2016 at 5:29 pm |
TonyGentilcore
LOL - why, thank you.January 14, 2016 at 3:50 pm |
Shane Mclean
You don't have to ask for my forgiveness, you already have it. Next your going to tell me you're doing leg ext/leg curls for accessory work. What make the Spoto lift so special? Never heard of it before.January 16, 2016 at 10:35 am |
TonyGentilcore
Well, sure....why not? Everything has a time and place, right? A bigger muscle can produce more force. If someone is lacking in quad size, leg extensions are a nice drill to gain some hypertrophy. Would I consider it a staple to leg growth? No, I think squats do a fantastic job. However, we can't be so married to compound movements for everything. Spoto Press (excerpt from an upcoming BB.com article): The Spoto Press has several advantages over the traditional board press: 1. It forces more time under tension (TUT) in a range where most trainees typically miss their bench press – 1-2 inches off the chest. 2. It teaches to maintain tension within that same range of motion. 3. It also helps to work on bar speed and explosiveness out of a weak ROM. 4. And, yes, it does hammer the triceps. Even more so when you train the exercise in a close-grip fashion (as in the video above). 5. Eric Spoto used them exclusively to bench press 722 lbs, raw. Are you going to be the one to tell him they don’t work?January 17, 2016 at 8:16 am |
Shane Mclean
Thanks for the explanation on the Spoto press and number 5 is an impressive fact. The ext/curl call is tongue in cheek baby. All movement is good movement. No need to defend yourself mate :)January 17, 2016 at 3:24 pm |
TonyGentilcore
I figured it was tongue in cheek.....but wanted to make sure.....;o)January 18, 2016 at 9:21 am |
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Kate C
Tony, you've confirmed something for me that I'e been mulling over for a while. My shoulders and pecs are quite weak but just doing presses doesn't help. I quickly hit a brick wall and bounce around the same weight, making my reps some days and not others. I guessed that doing something that targets my weaker spots would help which seems to go against what certain programmes suggest. Unfortunately, I'd only just been doing that a couple of times when I broke my arm last August, which of course meant my left shoulder got even weaker when it was totally immobile for 10 weeks and partly immobile for another 4. I'm only just back to lifting now so I will let you know how it goes.January 20, 2016 at 7:50 pm |
TonyGentilcore
I am so happy to hear this message resonated with you (and others). Believe me: I am ALL for the big, compound lifts, and feel those should be the bread and butter of any strength training program (or fat loss program, or hypertrophy program for that matter). HOWEVER, as I noted we're REALLY good at compensating and just because you're doing a compound movement - like overhead pressing for example - doesn't mean you're hitting your delts enough. Some targeted isolation work may be exactly what you need to get over that hump.January 22, 2016 at 8:11 am |
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Steven Head, CSCS
Tony, how timely of you! Great article. If I may- this is a paragraph from my soon to be released, "Not Another Fitness Book" :Nick Tumminello, another one of our industry’s most brilliant minds has convinced me to soften my militant stance against machines. He has distinguished himself as a champion of critical thinking, a challenger of ‘sacred cows’ and by coaxing the wild pendulum swings of popular sentiment back to a more moderate middle ground. Two of those pendulum swings have been the demonizing of machines and the dismissing of isolation exercises. Nick’s dispassionate use of research and reason has done much to up the professionalism and down the dogma in this field.October 19, 2018 at 11:07 am |