Multi-Joint Exercise

A multi-joint exercise is an exercise in which movement occurs at two or more joints during performance. These exercises typically require coordinated action from several muscles or muscle groups. In resistance training, common examples include squats, leg presses, presses, and rows. Multi-joint exercises are also often described as compound exercises .^1,2

Because several joints move together, different muscles can contribute different functions within the same exercise. Some act as primary force producers, while others contribute as synergists or stabilizers. For example, a leg press involves movement at both the hip and knee and therefore requires coordinated force production from muscles acting across these joints .^1,2

A multi-joint exercise is distinguished from a single-joint exercise, in which the primary movement occurs around one joint. A leg press is multi-joint because both the hip and knee move, whereas a knee-extension exercise primarily involves movement at the knee. This classification describes the movement pattern, not the number of individual muscles that are active, since even single-joint exercises can involve several muscles .^1,2

Multi-joint exercises can be used to train several muscle groups within one movement, but they are not inherently superior to single-joint exercises for every training outcome. Adaptations such as strength are partly specific to the movements that are practiced, so the appropriate exercise type depends on the particular movement or muscular function being trained .^1,2