Bookmark Website  | Free Registration  | The Team
The Lounge  | Champions  | The Wire |  Schedule |  Audio  |  Arcade  |  The Top Ten  |  Historical  |  Email  |  Video

Programming Brief: Exercise Order


One of the fundamental principles of exercise prescription, specifically resistance training, is the principle of exercise order. Which exercises do I do first? Which do I do last? Does exercise order really matter? From personal observations in the weight room, it would seem to many it doesn't matter. However, if you want an effective exercise program you must consider the order of the exercises.

Multi-joint Exercises

As a general rule you should perform complex multi-joint exercises first in your exercise routine while you are fresh. Typically, multi-joint movements require more skill and energy to perform. Such exercises include squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and pull-ups. Nothing annoys me more than seeing someone perform bicep curls until their head explodes, then go right into lat pulldowns (notice, lat pulldowns, not pull-ups?anyone who does pull-ups knows better than to work their biceps beforehand).

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Such is the case when using the pre-exhaustion technique. For example, perform a set of dumbbell flys to exhaust the pectorals then going directly to a set of bench press. In this case, however, you are pre-exhausting the larger muscle group, not the smaller muscle group.

Single-joint Exercises

Since single-joint movements typically require less skill to perform and are not as taxing on the body, perform them after multi-joint exercises. Performing single-joint movements at the end of a workout session will ensure a more efficient and effective routine. Of course, there will be exceptions, which should be addressed on an individual basis.

Note: Agility drills & Olympic lifts have been excluded from the discussion of exercise order. However, typically agility drills & Olympic lifts, respectively, should be performed before multi-joint exercises.

Chad Anderson, CSCS operates a personal training, fitness programming, and consulting business while also holding a full-time position as a senior personal trainer at a commercial health club. He holds a BS degree in exercise science with a minor in nutrition and is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA. You can visit his website at http://www.afitsolutions.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Exercise Important in Teens' Blood Pressure Control
ABC News
Researchers found that among nearly 1300 Canadian teenagers they followed for five years, declining exercise levels over time were linked to small increases ...

and more »


Tourism promoters lobby against drill
Las Vegas Review - Journal
On Thursday, the Senate majority leader objected to the exercise in a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. "I am deeply sympathetic to the need of our ...
Reid objects to emergency exercise set for VegasSan Jose Mercury News
Planned Emergency Drill Prompts ConcernsKXNT
Fallout over plans for Las Vegas nuclear drillKTNV Las Vegas

all 36 news articles »


WA today

American Council on Exercise releases Wii Fit study results
Examiner.com
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) released study results last week regarding Nintendo's Wii Fit. Conducted with the help of the University of Wisconsin ...
Nintendo Wii may provide actual exercise: studyReuters
Active Video Games Count as ExerciseU.S. News & World Report
Sports Authority to sell the Wii because, well, it's an exercise deviceCrunchGear (blog)
The Money Times -HULIQ -Daily Mail
all 196 news articles »


E! Online

Jude Law throws fruit at students during exercise routines: New Yorkers ...
Examiner.com
These lucky learners have the perfect view of Jude Law as he does a daily exercise routine and plays with his son on the balcony of his apartment. ...
Jude Law hurls oranges at unwanted audience: reportAFP

all 39 news articles »


Obama, NFL players encourage kids to exercise
ProFootballTalk
All of the NFL's Thanksgiving weekend games will be used to showcase the league's efforts to combat childhood obesity and encourage exercise.

and more »


Pointless exercise
IFR Asia
Ratings agency Moody's last week modified its methodology for hybrid and subordinated debt, a move that was widely anticipated but had little impact on ...

and more »


Local Students Help Out The Community Through Exercise
WSAW
Before they donated them they were used to help build muscle, and raise awareness about the importance of exercise. "They use the can as kind of their ...

and more »


Students Rally To Save Sports And Exercise Program
KEYT
Goleta, CA-- Students at the UC Santa Barbara Exercise and Sports Studies program are pumping up the opposition to proposed cuts in their classes. ...

and more »


Options to Advil for pain relief
Los Angeles Times
I was disappointed that you didn't mention exercise. According to a literature review in the "Handbook of Sport Psychology," as little as 5 to 10 minutes of ...
Damp Pajamas For Eczema; Walnuts Lower CholesterolHartford Courant

all 2 news articles »


What kind of strength work won't aggravate rotator cuff issue?
CNN
What kind of exercise moves can I do instead that will get me the same sort of gains? Thanks. Hi Renee -- I commend your desire to incorporate strength ...

and more »

Google News


Advertisement



Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us

Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved.