Apr

30

Pre-Exhaustion

Filed Under Terminology | 

Pre exhaustion exercises refer to doing a single joint movement exercise before you do your heavy, or compound movement for that body part.

For example to  pre-exhaust chest you would do flyes before Benchpress, same for Leg Extensions before Squats, Side Lateral Raises before Shoulder Press

The idea behind pre exhaustion exercises is to stress the target muscle before you start to work it properly. Then when you do your heavy sets it is already fatigued, and easier to feel.

The reasons you would do pre exhaustion of the muscles are;

If you are having trouble growing a body part then pre exhaustion will allow you to target that muscle group more effectively as you can feel it easier when you do your compound movements.

If you have a sore supplemental muscle. For example if your triceps are still sore from a previous workout then you are not going to be able to Benchpress your maximum, so pre exhausting your chest will help weaken your chest at least to the same point as your triceps.

If you have an injury then you can pre exhaust the muscle so that you do not use as heavy weights and reduce the risk of aggravating the injury.

Help you with form. If you are having trouble feeling the muscle you are supposed to be building and getting correct form then pre exhausting the muscle is a good idea, it will weaken your primary muscle so that it starts to hurt/burn first when you do your compound movement, this will allow you to feel the muscle easier and to adjust your form and learn to use the muscle better.

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