Thread: How is a bicep curl a compound movement?

You are right, it is not classified as a compound movement. Other muscle are involved in stabilization but do not contract across a joint (i.e delts). The amount of support muscles used depends on if it is done standing, siting or concentration.

It's not!

I would have to agree with Prince.

i think we all agree

Well if you do 7 sets of 6 with the quadrafamadaloids and the bicinouplex the bicep curl is a compund movement. LoL. J/P I do think we all agree

------------------
Got Muscle?
Train hard, play fast, go strong.

If you have good form then it's not but I know people that make it a compound exercise just because of their bad form

------------------
If you build it they will come

NOT!... just had to though that in

------------------
Thoughts are more powerful then Matter

It's not a compound movement but people refer to the exercise as a compound movement becuase it is a difficult exercise not to mention you can lift alot more with a barbell than a dumbell.
The reason for that is because of the alignment of the resistance to the body and aligning the body to the resistance as well as the position of the spine.

------------------
train smart not hard

Originally Posted by cutemonkey

Just like my question implies...I read this reply from someone a MM and just wanted to see what everyone thinks. Compound movements implore multiple joint movements. Last I checked, a proper bicep curl performed should only one joint movement.

Yup - A simple 'BB curl', as most people know it and as you are ment to perform it - is a isolation movement.

However, the bicep crosses TWO joints - the shoulder and the elbow. So it is partially involved (as a helper muscle) in shoulder joint flexion (moving your arm up to the front of your body).

So, I was always told that when you do things like screw curls - the aim is to contract the muscle through the entire range of motion so the isolation move turns into a compound movement (albeit a small one). This is because you not only curl your arm (elbow flexion) but at the top of the movement you also add an extra 'contraction' to move up through the move and flex your shoulder joint as well...

??

Wouldn't we classify a CG chin as a compound bicep movement??

Originally Posted by Rissole

Wouldn't we classify a CG chin as a compound bicep movement??

I would classify it as a compound back movement (primary target being the lats) in which the biceps act as an assistant/stabiliser muscle... As far as I am aware the main aim of the movement is the shoulder extension (and the biceps is not involved in this action)...

I always thought CG chins were to target the bis. Wide grip...lats and back!

Originally Posted by ChrisROCK

I always thought CG chins were to target the bis. Wide grip...lats and back!

CG are primarily for the lats, although they can also attack the biceps hard...especially if you make a concerted effort to "relax" the lats and to pull with the biceps. You can also reduce lat involvement to a degree by never completely straightening the arms on the decent. CG chins are an excellent second exercise in a biceps superset, as the lats can give an "assist" to the rapidly fatiguing bis.

Originally Posted by mac sloan

It's not a compound movement but people refer to the exercise as a compound movement becuase it is a difficult exercise not to mention you can lift alot more with a barbell than a dumbell.
The reason for that is because of the alignment of the resistance to the body and aligning the body to the resistance as well as the position of the spine.

------------------
train smart not hard

How do we post as a guest?

du...that was in 2001...

Originally Posted by du510

How do we post as a guest?

he was probably a member, but then got banned or maybe his account expired