General
isolation
What does isolation mean?
An exercise that works essentially one muscle group across a single joint, like bicep curls or leg extensions.
"Finish with some isolation work for the biceps."
Origin
Strength-training term contrasted with multi-joint 'compound' lifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is an isolation exercise?
An isolation exercise works essentially one muscle group across a single joint, such as a bicep curl, leg extension or lateral raise.
When should you do isolation work?
Isolation moves are usually done after the big compounds to target specific muscles for extra volume or to bring up weak points.
Is isolation or compound training better?
Both have their place; compounds build overall strength and mass efficiently, while isolation work fine-tunes and grows individual muscles.
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