Compound Exercises | Compound exercise Workouts

August 06, 2024 4 min read

Watson bench and  bar for compound exercises

What are Compound Exercises


Compound exercises are movements that engage multiple muscle groups and joints simultaneously. Unlike isolation exercises, which focus on a single muscle group (like a bicep curl), compound exercises are designed to work several muscles at once, making them efficient for building strength and improving overall fitness.


Key Characteristics of Compound Exercises:-


  • Multi-Joint Movements : Compound exercises typically involve more than one joint. For example, a squat engages the hips, knees, and ankles, while also working the core.
  • Multiple Muscle Groups : These compound exercises activate several muscle groups simultaneously. For instance, a deadlift targets the hamstrings, glutes, lower back, and core.

Useful Equipment For Compound Exercises

Benefits of Compound Exercises


Benefits of compound exercises, to consider :-


  • Efficiency : They allow you to work multiple muscles in a shorter time, making them ideal for those with limited workout time.Increased
  •  Caloric Burn : Engaging more muscle groups leads to higher calorie expenditure during workouts.
  • Functional Strength : They mimic real-life movements, improving your ability to perform daily activities and enhancing athletic performance.
  • Improved Coordination and Balance : Because they require the coordination of various muscle groups, compound exercises can enhance overall body control.
  • Greater Muscle Mass : They tend to allow for heavier lifting, which can lead to increased muscle hypertrophy over time.

Examples of Compound Exercises:-


  • Squats : Work the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and core.
  • Deadlifts : Target the hamstrings, glutes, lower back, and core.
  • Bench Press : Engages the chest, shoulders, and triceps. Pull-Ups : Work the back, biceps, and shoulders
  • Dips : Target the triceps, chest, and shoulders.
  • Lunges : Lunges workout various muscles, they engage the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and core. Incorporating compound exercises into your workout routine can lead to more effective strength training, improved functional fitness, and better overall health outcomes.
  • Compound Leg Exercises.
  • Compound Back Exercises.

Compound Exercise Workout


Check out out our taster  compound exercise workout routine that targets multiple muscle groups efficiently:


Full Body Compound Exercises Workout


Warm-up: 5-10 minutes of light cardio (e.g., jump rope)


Main Workout:


  • Squats: 4 sets of 12-10-8-6 reps (increasing weight each set)
  • Deadlifts: 4 sets of 12-10-8-6 reps (increasing weight each set)
  • Bench Press: 4 sets of 12 reps
  • Pull-ups or Lat Pull-downs: 4 sets of 10 reps
  • Shoulder Press: 4 sets of 10 reps
  • Lunges: 4 sets of 8 reps per leg
  • Dips: 4 sets to failure

Core Work:

  • Plank: 3 sets, hold for 30-60 seconds
  • Bicycle Crunches: 3 sets of 20 reps

Cool-down: 5-10 minutes of stretching.


Key Points:

  • Rest 60-90 seconds between sets.
  • Focus on proper form to maximize benefits and prevent injury.
  • For beginners, start with lighter weights and focus on mastering the movements.
  • This workout can be performed 2-3 times per week, allowing at least one full day of rest between sessions.

This compound exercise routine targets all major muscle groups, including legs, back, chest, shoulders, arms, and core. It's efficient for building overall strength, burning calories, and improving functional fitness. As you progress, you can adjust weights and reps to continue challenging yourself. Remember to consult with a fitness professional if you're new to these exercises to ensure proper form and technique

Lunges are popular compound exercises

Detailed Compound Exercises Analysis


Total body training which includes multi-joint or otherwise known as, compound, lifts such as deadlifts build a stronger back and better abs. Exercises like the deadlift also prevent lower back pain as it is widely recognised to be one of the most efficient exercises for strengthening the lower back.


The results showed that the most effective exercise in terms of working the lower back was the deadlift. The average EMG activity was 88% whilst the peak EMG activity was 113.4% for the lower back muscles. In regards to the muscle activation it was the lung exercises and the back extension which was most significant; whilst the lunge produced 46% muscle activity, the back extension resulted in an average EMG activity of 58%. In contrast, the supine bridge performed on the BOSU obtained the last at only 29% activation.


During the following compound exercises, the electromyographic muscle activity in the lumber and thoracic erector spinae muscles of the lower back were compared in a recent study:


  • back extension
  • lunge with 70% of the 1RM
  • deadlift performed at 70% of the 1RM
  • single leg body weight deadlift
  • Completed on a BOSU:
  • static supine bridge
  • single leg body weight deadlift

Additionally, deadlifts do not only provide maximal activity for the lower back muscles to enhance trunk stabilisation, they are also highly functional. As this exercise works numerous and various muscles such as the hamstrings and glutes, it can also provide stimulation to the trapezius.

To improve firing of muscles on the non- dominant side of the body, researchers have had athletes undertake unilateral neuromuscular training for a period of 8 weeks. The results of the study found that there was a noticeable decrease in the asymmetry of muscle activity from an average of 53% to 23%. This had the effect of improving their movement when performing a squat by 35%. It has been suggested by these researchers that once structure balance has been enhanced and made more efficient, the asymmetry is then reduced. This enabled the athletes to perform higher levels of traditional strength training such as deadlifts which in turn allowed them to build their strength throughout the
body as a whole.


Overall, training the whole body with compound lifts will help to strength the lower back and abs. Should lower back pain be evident it is recommended that neuromuscular training is completed to begin with which then progresses to deadlifts, lunges, back extensions once the pain has eradicated.





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