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isolation
- Thread starter andy20
- Start date
I disagree with the statement about 'shaping'. you cannot 'shape' muscles, period. muscle shape is genetic. all you can do is increase size or decrease size.
yes the muscle will change shape slightly as it grows or shrinks, but its nothing you can control.
muscles like the quads, you can 'shape' to a degree because there are multiple muscle heads, which you can target. this is when you hear about bodybuilders 'improving the sweep of their thighs'....they use combos of wide and narrow stances for leg exercises to hit the inner and outer quad muscle heads for better size/looks.
But in general, you will indeed do compound exercises first, and for the bulk of your routine, with a few isolation moves at the end, especially for arms, shoulders, calves...mostly smaller muscles. but there are also techniques for isolating larger muscles which can be used appropriately.
if your goal is to be strong and fit, and not look like a bodybuilder, then isolation isn't as necessary IMO.
yes the muscle will change shape slightly as it grows or shrinks, but its nothing you can control.
muscles like the quads, you can 'shape' to a degree because there are multiple muscle heads, which you can target. this is when you hear about bodybuilders 'improving the sweep of their thighs'....they use combos of wide and narrow stances for leg exercises to hit the inner and outer quad muscle heads for better size/looks.
But in general, you will indeed do compound exercises first, and for the bulk of your routine, with a few isolation moves at the end, especially for arms, shoulders, calves...mostly smaller muscles. but there are also techniques for isolating larger muscles which can be used appropriately.
if your goal is to be strong and fit, and not look like a bodybuilder, then isolation isn't as necessary IMO.