6 great upper body isolation exercises

Isolation exercises target a single muscle or joint, unlike compound exercises that emphasize multiple muscle groups and joints. Isolation movements are great for improving strength and size in particular muscles.

You can perform isolation exercises for the upper body muscles, core, and lower body muscles. Here are some great isolation movements for your upper bod, including the specific muscles each one targets:

• Bicep curls - a classic isolation exercise that primarily targets the biceps muscles.
• Hammer curls - another exercise that targets the biceps, with a particular focus on the brachialis that sits just below the biceps.
• Tricep extensions - this exercise isolates the triceps muscles, which are on the posterior upper arms.
• Skull crushers - another exercise that isolates the triceps muscles.
• Lateral raises - one of the most popular exercises for isolating the lateral head of the deltoids.
• Front raises - an exercise that focuses on the anterior deltoid muscles.