Isolated or Integrated Muscle Training?

When people engage in a training program, they have various goals. Some examples of training goals are:

  • Increasing “general strength” or strength for a specific movement (squats, bench press, etc.)
  • Improving the range of motion of a movement or a specific joint.
  • Increasing cardiovascular endurance or the ability to maintain high muscle demand for longer periods.
  • Improving the aesthetics and appearance of the body (to look more toned or athletic).
  • Rehabilitation from an injury.
  • Reducing pain in the body.
  • Improving performance in a sport (specific training for the sport).

All of these reasons are absolutely useful for engaging in physical exercise, and most people should aim to improve their quality of life through training.

In this article, we will discuss the concept of isolated muscle training, compare it to integrated muscle training, and argue which approach should be preferred for maximum improvement in quality of life.

What is Isolation Training?

Isolation training is a form of exercise that aims to strengthen a specific muscle or a small group of muscles, minimizing the involvement of other muscles or muscle groups. This is achieved through exercises that focus on a specific movement or joint, such as bicep curls or leg extensions. Isolation training is often used to target weak points, promote muscle hypertrophy, or correct muscle imbalances.

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What is Integrated Training?

Integrated training is a form of exercise that focuses on strengthening the body through the simultaneous cooperation of multiple muscle groups in movements that reflect natural, functional activities. This approach addresses chronic pain, improves overall performance, balance, stability, and mobility, and replicates movement patterns we use daily, such as walking and running. The goal is to enhance the body’s natural ability to function effectively without injury.

Which of the Two Approaches is More Effective?

To understand the importance of isolation and integrated training, we must examine how the human body functions.

First, How Did Muscles Develop in the Body?

Considering our evolution as a species or evolution in general, we must think about the adaptations the body underwent due to environmental changes. These influenced human biological adaptations.

The Gluteus Maximus as an Example.

For example, the gluteus maximus is a muscle that developed relatively recently in human evolutionary history. What was the stimulus that led to its development?

When thinking about the development of the gluteus maximus, it is most likely that it evolved as a result of environmental pressure that required the human body to move in a specific way to ensure survival.

Anthropological evidence suggests that standing, walking, running, and throwing were key movements for human survival. The gluteus maximus is primarily involved in these movements.

The development of the gluteus maximus indicates that muscles evolved to perform integrated movements such as running and throwing.

Secondly, How Does the Human Body Work?

In the article on myofascial chains, extensive reference is made to how the human body functions.

Based on the description and functionality of the myofascial chains, which are a key component in the body’s operation, we understand the need for a holistic approach in understanding movement. By viewing the body as a unified system, we can improve physical performance, recover from injuries, and improve posture and movement, thus contributing to our overall well-being. Exercising the body with respect to these myofascial chains is crucial for long-term health and daily life without pain.

What Happens If We Train the Body with Isolation Training?

Modern training approaches are not particularly specific.

Unfortunately, we cannot agree on what a good training program should look like. Additionally, most trainers do not seem truly interested in documenting and showcasing the results achieved through their approaches (other than controlled studies).

When results are presented, they are often in relation to a very limited set of parameters, such as increased muscle mass, fat loss, or improvement in a single lifting exercise. The questions we ask are:

  1. Do these improvements come at the expense of another aspect of health? (e.g., joint pain or strain in other body systems)
  2. How do these results hold up over time?
  3. Can they be evaluated with visible changes in the human body that positively affect real-life applications?

To refer to the results of traditional isolation approaches, we list some measurements with which people evaluate their fitness levels.

These include:

  • Muscular and cardiovascular endurance
  • Muscular strength
  • Mobility

Although most people have different goals for their exercise, the general majority of people who engage in physical exercise are motivated by the above factors.

What Happens If We Train the Body According to Its Evolutionary Design?

If we examine the evolutionary path of the human species and attempt to determine the most effective way to train the human body, the following are likely benefits that would arise:

  1. Increased running speed
  2. Better posture – running faster and more symmetrically likely correlates with a more upright and symmetrical posture
  3. Greater ability to maintain muscle mass – muscles are used as designed
  4. Improved mobility without causing hypermobility in the joints – the body is trained to move only in necessary ways
  5. Reduced joint pain – moving the body in ways it was designed for likely causes less strain on the joints
  6. Increased muscle strength – translating into daily life
  7. Greater endurance – if the body moves more efficiently, the same movements become easier and can be sustained over time

If you train your body in a way that is specific to what it has evolved to do, you should be able to achieve all of these fitness traits with a small number of well-executed exercises.

Conclusion

Since muscles evolved in relation to integrated movements like walking, running, and throwing, training with respect to these functions will likely offer the most benefits to the human body.

When training the body with respect to these primary movements, isolated contractions should not occur. The specialization with which your muscles contract in relation to other muscles determines the quality of your movement.

This is the difference between a high-level athlete and someone suffering from chronic pain with restricted movement.

The more isolated the muscle contraction in a training situation, the less effective that movement will be for anything else you do.

Without delving further into theories on why one approach may be better than another, let’s simply look at the results from a more integrated approach to training.

On our results page, you will find people of all ages and ability levels. You will see people who have changed the way they walk, reversed their chronic pain, and built muscle mass. You will see visible improvements in posture and testimonies about the mental benefits of training in a more integrated way. These are very different people with different lives – but they apply the same training system and achieve similar results.

We hope this article and the thought-provoking ideas help you judge results based on their visibility and application in daily life.

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