Isolation vs. compound exercises

[vegetus25]

One thing I have noticed about DVR?VRT is the line between isolation exercises and compound exercises gets really blurry. So many muscles are involved in performing a Fly or a Pec Deck move (for example) using DVR?VRT vs doing the same moves w/ weights that they really do not seem like isolation moves.

[VRT Man]

Absolutely, Veg.

That's the beauty of it. The flexor (or extensor) whichever is being contracted, is being pumped by the eccentric utilization of the opposite muscle group; or as some say, the agonist vs. the antagonist. I feel a full-body pump when I'm done with VRT, quite unlike what I would get from any weight training session. That's due to the utilization of counteracting muscle groups to provide the tension. A Pec Deck or a Fly you'll feel in the pecs, but also in the lats/traps/back deltoids as well.

--Greg Mangan

[douglis]

That's why I believe(and train this way too) that only three VRT exercises are enough to get an effective whole body workout.

[Viking Dan]

It may be something mis-wired in my brain, but I have trouble getting strong contractions in my legs with DVR/VRT, so I still do some sort of squatting moves. DSRs I have found to work though: such as pitting one leg against the other.

[gruntbrain]

Many isometrics are "compounds" eg doorway headerboard pushes & chinup bar pulls - a nearly complete body workout can be achieved with those 2 moves