Answers (13)
3
It is neither one nor the other. This is not a question that can stand by its own but has to asked in the context of a goal to be accomplished.
For a body builder, it may be considered necessary to work on that one muscle to achieve overall symmetry.
When I find an imbalance, I may first try to strengthen through isolation before I try to integrate. Here it is a step towards improved function. This is how I personally view muscles isolation. It is not a goal but a means to an end. I believe that it will create dysfunction to only train through muscle isolation.
For a body builder, it may be considered necessary to work on that one muscle to achieve overall symmetry.
When I find an imbalance, I may first try to strengthen through isolation before I try to integrate. Here it is a step towards improved function. This is how I personally view muscles isolation. It is not a goal but a means to an end. I believe that it will create dysfunction to only train through muscle isolation.
2
D, all of the above. This is a goal dependent question and answer.
There are a couple of principles of training that we should keep in mind when considering this topic; Specificity and Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands (S.A.I.D). With those principles in mind lets take a look at this topic.
Is muscle isolation a good practice? Sure if you're a body builder, there is not doubt in any professionals mind that training in isolation works for the training of a specific muscle or group. Is this optimal? Sure if you're a bodybuilder and don't care about performance. I hope you are seeing a trend here. Bodybuilding is most definitely in favor of isolation type of movements..
Now lets get to the other side of this story...Is muscle isolation a good practice? No, not if you are an athlete. There is a reason that the top level athletes in the world don't do Isolation exercises...they decrease intra-muscular coordination, and in doing so limit performance increases. Is this optimal? I am sure you can guess my answer to this one..NO, it is not optimal for athletic performance increases.
There is however another topic her for Isolation exercises and that covers physical therapy and corrective exercise strategies.In the realm of Therapy and Corrective strategies there is most definitely a use for isolation type of exercise.
There seems to be much debate here whether or not you should train isolation exercise....the facts are simple and clear. If your goal is not dependent upon increased function or athletic performance then by all means train that way, but if you want to move like well balanced fine tuned human machine then limit the amount of isolation exercises.
There are a couple of principles of training that we should keep in mind when considering this topic; Specificity and Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands (S.A.I.D). With those principles in mind lets take a look at this topic.
Is muscle isolation a good practice? Sure if you're a body builder, there is not doubt in any professionals mind that training in isolation works for the training of a specific muscle or group. Is this optimal? Sure if you're a bodybuilder and don't care about performance. I hope you are seeing a trend here. Bodybuilding is most definitely in favor of isolation type of movements..
Now lets get to the other side of this story...Is muscle isolation a good practice? No, not if you are an athlete. There is a reason that the top level athletes in the world don't do Isolation exercises...they decrease intra-muscular coordination, and in doing so limit performance increases. Is this optimal? I am sure you can guess my answer to this one..NO, it is not optimal for athletic performance increases.
There is however another topic her for Isolation exercises and that covers physical therapy and corrective exercise strategies.In the realm of Therapy and Corrective strategies there is most definitely a use for isolation type of exercise.
There seems to be much debate here whether or not you should train isolation exercise....the facts are simple and clear. If your goal is not dependent upon increased function or athletic performance then by all means train that way, but if you want to move like well balanced fine tuned human machine then limit the amount of isolation exercises.
2
In my opinion it depends on the client's goals and fitness/health level. I wouldn't have an obese client wanting to decrease body fat performing isolated movements...and then I wouldn't have a bodybuilder trying to gain muscle mass performing stabilization exercises on the ball. (unless an assessment proved the need otherwise due to some degree on poor staility)
1
I think it's highly dependent upon your goals and current fitness level. I don't think isolations are terribly helpful for beginning exercisers as they ought to focus more on compound movements that foster functional fitness.
Isolations are appropriate for intermediate or advanced exercisers who are looking to switch up their training or possibly target weaker muscle groups.
Isolations are appropriate for intermediate or advanced exercisers who are looking to switch up their training or possibly target weaker muscle groups.
1
There is no good or bad. It all depends on the situation.
Isolation is a misnomer: muscles all work together, synergy.
I use "isolation techniques" when I am teaching a cleint about certain muscle groups, but mostly as a tool not a technique of fitness.
Isometrics sometimes have to be used if a client has joint issues or mobility problems.
Personally I don't see the point of isolating a muscle otherwise.
Isolation is a misnomer: muscles all work together, synergy.
I use "isolation techniques" when I am teaching a cleint about certain muscle groups, but mostly as a tool not a technique of fitness.
Isometrics sometimes have to be used if a client has joint issues or mobility problems.
Personally I don't see the point of isolating a muscle otherwise.
0
There is a time and a place for muscle isolation. Many rehabilitation scenarios involve muscle isolation as the practitioner attempts to "rehabilitate" the weakened or injured body part. Exercises such as leg extensions, bicep curls and triceps extensions are staples in therapy clinics. So, depending upon the ultimate goal of the exercise, isolation CAN be, and often is, a "good practice."
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com
0
Gus, your question was answerd by more questions? How about a solution? Fixing the startle or withdrawal reflex in the body, will fix the isolation problem so it wont interfere with the chain reaction and the chain reaction wont worry about the isolation, is that simple and it can be done in a matter of seconds. This is what happens when you understand how the human body functions. Hope this helps?
0
Louie, it is great to see your here on the forum again.
Before I respond, I'd like to say that I am forever a work-in-progress. I have no desire to stop increasing my knowledge about the human body and humbly say I don't know everything. I am knowledgeable in some things but far from an expert.
Louie, please correct me if I am mistaken. Are you referring to the Moro reflex also known at the embrace reflex or the startle reflex?
I've included a link so all can know what you are referring to in the case we are on the same page. If I am mistaken, I'd like to be enlightened.
Moro (startle reflex in infants)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2508818082092298520
Moro Reflex (startle) definition
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5864198_startle-response_.html
Louie, if this is what you are referring to, I really don't see the correlation. Help me out with this please.
Thanks.
N.B. We all know that no muscle group can work in isolation. Agonists, antagonists, stabilizers and neutralizers all work together (among other components to produce movement).
Before I respond, I'd like to say that I am forever a work-in-progress. I have no desire to stop increasing my knowledge about the human body and humbly say I don't know everything. I am knowledgeable in some things but far from an expert.
Louie, please correct me if I am mistaken. Are you referring to the Moro reflex also known at the embrace reflex or the startle reflex?
I've included a link so all can know what you are referring to in the case we are on the same page. If I am mistaken, I'd like to be enlightened.
Moro (startle reflex in infants)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2508818082092298520
Moro Reflex (startle) definition
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5864198_startle-response_.html
Louie, if this is what you are referring to, I really don't see the correlation. Help me out with this please.
Thanks.
N.B. We all know that no muscle group can work in isolation. Agonists, antagonists, stabilizers and neutralizers all work together (among other components to produce movement).
0
Joanne, some literature call it the Moro reflex and it does exist in adults. A simple explanation is that the body has a built in fight/flight/freeze response, and most of the time a "weak" muscle gets stuck in the "freeze response" and once you unstick it, it returns to normal function, most of the time instantly. The sad part of it Joanne, is that you will never find out how? in the Fitness World, you have to search for it in the Physical Therapy world. Joanne i hope this answers your question? Take care.
0
Like many have said it depends on your goals. Many say we train movement patterns. Bodies know movement patterns and not a single muscle looking to get bigger. If our goal is hypertrophy and bodysculpting then isolating muscles can be very beneficial. It is also beneficial when we've done some manual muscle testing and we know a certain area is weak.
0
I simply feel it is one of the tools in my kit. It may fit in at some point and not at another point in their training. Use it when it is needed.
Scott
Scott
-1
Gus, thank you for your question. It appears we are revisiting a similar question that was posed that asked "Can you really tone your abdominals without doing crunches."
When I responded to the question I received I believe three negative ratings as a consequence of my response which I will leave again. I was left surprised to hear the opinions of my fellow fitness professionals regarding the function of the rectus abdominis. Gus, I encourage you to have a look at the thread.
Gus, you now ask is "muscle isolation" good or bad. Before I respond, I want to visit the responses that were posted to the question I referred to at the beginning of my post regarding "abs" and "crunches."
1. One person said, I didn't know anybody was still doing crunches."
2 Another highlighted the research he performed on the topic and stated "I don't do any crunch abdominal exercises."
3. Another said "it is rediculous to be doing crunches when then function of the "core" is stability and force transference." He said, "the rectus abdominus does not function by itself and should not be trained in isolation."
I stated:
"I think it is important not to forget the function of abdominal muscles. I personally think the word "crunch" is describing one of the actions of the rectus abdominis--flexion of the spine. For me it's like saying that biceps curls are passe'. When one looks at the direction the muscle fibers are running as well as the origin and insertion of the rectus abdominis, it only makes sense to work the muscle in a "crunching fashion" whether one is standing or lying down. That's not to say one cannot include eccentric and isometric contractions when training that muscle group.
I personally don't see anything wrong with performing crunches for that is exactly what the rectus abdominis does."
I stand by that statement.
Gus, one of things I think that should be considered when responding to to question related to our industry are the populations we work with, the various postures we work with and scope of practice, exercise progression is pivotal to. We might need to isolate a muscle group before we integrate it into a more complex movement. This is a basic teaching in fitness programming. We progress from the simple to the complex.
For many licensed professionals, (physical therapists, occupational therapists) and even some fitness professionals whose scope of practice involves working with populations other than the apparently healthy population muscle isolation may be the optimal approach when it comes to developing strength endurance/strength for that individual. It is important to consider the age, level of conditioning and or whether the individual has mobility issues among other things. I would never ask my oldest client who is 87 to perform a plank. 8((
I work with people in wheelchairs, amputees, stroke survivors, people recovering from traumatic brain injuries and have to use muscle isolation often. Hence, I think there is a place even beyond corrective exercise where muscle isolation fits.
Textbooks such as "Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes" (Sahrmann), "Fitness Programming and Physical Disability" (Patricia D. Miller) highlight specific exercises that isolate muscle group with a specific goal in mind.
Gus, you've been posting some really good questions that provoke thought. Thank you for your inquisitiveness. It is helpful to me.
I hope the above is use to you. Have a great day.
When I responded to the question I received I believe three negative ratings as a consequence of my response which I will leave again. I was left surprised to hear the opinions of my fellow fitness professionals regarding the function of the rectus abdominis. Gus, I encourage you to have a look at the thread.
Gus, you now ask is "muscle isolation" good or bad. Before I respond, I want to visit the responses that were posted to the question I referred to at the beginning of my post regarding "abs" and "crunches."
1. One person said, I didn't know anybody was still doing crunches."
2 Another highlighted the research he performed on the topic and stated "I don't do any crunch abdominal exercises."
3. Another said "it is rediculous to be doing crunches when then function of the "core" is stability and force transference." He said, "the rectus abdominus does not function by itself and should not be trained in isolation."
I stated:
"I think it is important not to forget the function of abdominal muscles. I personally think the word "crunch" is describing one of the actions of the rectus abdominis--flexion of the spine. For me it's like saying that biceps curls are passe'. When one looks at the direction the muscle fibers are running as well as the origin and insertion of the rectus abdominis, it only makes sense to work the muscle in a "crunching fashion" whether one is standing or lying down. That's not to say one cannot include eccentric and isometric contractions when training that muscle group.
I personally don't see anything wrong with performing crunches for that is exactly what the rectus abdominis does."
I stand by that statement.
Gus, one of things I think that should be considered when responding to to question related to our industry are the populations we work with, the various postures we work with and scope of practice, exercise progression is pivotal to. We might need to isolate a muscle group before we integrate it into a more complex movement. This is a basic teaching in fitness programming. We progress from the simple to the complex.
For many licensed professionals, (physical therapists, occupational therapists) and even some fitness professionals whose scope of practice involves working with populations other than the apparently healthy population muscle isolation may be the optimal approach when it comes to developing strength endurance/strength for that individual. It is important to consider the age, level of conditioning and or whether the individual has mobility issues among other things. I would never ask my oldest client who is 87 to perform a plank. 8((
I work with people in wheelchairs, amputees, stroke survivors, people recovering from traumatic brain injuries and have to use muscle isolation often. Hence, I think there is a place even beyond corrective exercise where muscle isolation fits.
Textbooks such as "Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes" (Sahrmann), "Fitness Programming and Physical Disability" (Patricia D. Miller) highlight specific exercises that isolate muscle group with a specific goal in mind.
Gus, you've been posting some really good questions that provoke thought. Thank you for your inquisitiveness. It is helpful to me.
I hope the above is use to you. Have a great day.
