Episode 33 Quick Fit Tip: Train Movement, not Muscles

If you exercise regularly, how do you decide which ones to do in your workouts? If you're like most fitness enthusiasts then you are most likely following a workout program featuring exercises that focus on individual muscle groups or bodyparts. This approach to fitness comes from bodybuilders who use muscle isolation exercises like biceps curls or leg extensions in an effort to promote the highest level of growth and definition.  The ViPR was designed specifically to focus on movement-based workouts.   Hypertrophy is the technical term for muscle growth; exercise programs where the goal is improving hypertrophy should focus on muscle isolation exercises because they can be the most effective way to initiate the metabolic or mechanical stimuli necessary to promote muscle growth. However, if you only have a limited time for exercise you are better off following an exercise program that focuses on using movement patterns as opposed to exercises designed to isolate a muscle. Here's some food for thought: The only time a muscle works in isolation is in a machine designed for muscle isolation. Any other time you move numerous muscles are working together to produce and control the forces necessary to perform specific movement patterns. Our brains are hard-wired to focus on learning the most effective movement patterns that can provide our daily needs for food, shelter, companionship or physical security. When creating a movement our brain and nervous system will engage a number of muscles simultaneously to execute the pattern. Performing a movement-based exercise program that focuses on using patterns instead of muscle isolation exercises can help improve overall levels of strength, reduce the risk of injury from overuse and increase caloric expenditure (allowing you to burn more calories in less time). Today's All About Fitness Quick Fit Tip focuses on the differences between isolation and movement training and why you should be doing the latter and skipping the former. The most important benefit is that anytime you engage more muscles in an activity you can increase the level of energy expenditure. Moving a weight through space is an effective way to increase total body strength.   Blogs I've written about the benefits of movement-based exercise: ACE Blog: Training Movement, Not Muscles ACE Blog: Training Movement, Not Muscles, part II ACE article: Loaded Movement Training   Thanks for tuning in; for the next few months All About Fitness will be holding a drawing from all people who fill out a review on iTunes (or other hosting services). Each month we will select one person from all of those who write a review to win a prize - either an All About Fitness t-shirt or a product from a sponsor. Please visit the sponsors of All About Fitness: SKLZ - exercise equipment for all phases of the workout; use code PM30 to save on your next order. ActivMhttps://activmotionbar.comotion Bar - the first weighted bar with a dynamic, moving mass that can be up to 170% MORE effective than using traditional weighted bars; let the resistance move you! The Terra Core by Vicore Fitness - The Terra Core is a unique new fitness platform that can be used as a bench, balance device or conditioning tool. Better products for better results; use code PM30 to save on the purchase of a Terra Core. (for more info on the Terra Core, read here) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices