What are the best exercises for building muscle?

Exercise Selection

The question of "what are the best exercises I should do?" is one that has plagued bodybuilders and fitness athletes for years. In this section we I will outline some simple tips that you can use to help you pick the best exercises for your workouts.

Compound vs. Isolation Exercises

Compound exercises work multiple muscles across more then one joint. Bench press, dips, and squats are examples of compound exercises. Isolation exercises work fewer muscles across a single joint. Dumbbell flyes, pec deck, and leg extensions are examples of isolation exercises.

Some people believe that in order to target a certain muscle you should use more isolation exercises and thus develop that muscle more efficiently. However, this is not the best approach. Isolation exercises that work the muscles across a single joint are not the most effective way to build muscle. Compound exercises are far more effective in building muscle because they incorporate the use of several muscle groups, allow for a heavier training load, and work more muscle mass in the same amount of time.

Let's look at the squat. It is a compound exercise. It works the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus, lower back, abdominals, calves, and the abductors. Squats allow for heavy weights to be lifted. This makes the squat an incredibly effective muscle building exercise. Compared to an isolation exercise such as the leg extension, which only focuses on the quadriceps, you can see how much more productive compound exercises are for building muscle.

Free Weights VS. Machines

Free weight exercises are more effective for building muscle then machine exercises. Machines make exercises easier to perform. You do not have to balance the weight with machine exercises because the machine balances the weight for you. You will get less muscle stimulation from machine exercises because they do not require the same concentration or effort as free weight exercises. Free weights have a greater ability to involve stabilizer muscles than machines. Free weights put you in a natural, 3 dimensional environment for exercise.

The majority of your exercises should be compound free weight exercises. This does not mean that you should avoid machine exercises or isolation exercises. They are easy to learn and there is a low risk of injury, which is great for people who are just starting out or for rehabilitation purposes. However, intermediate and advanced bodybuilders should always base their workouts around compound, free weight exercises and supplement their workouts with machine and isolation exercises.