There will always be people looking for easy solutions, diets, movements, and more in fitness. In turn, there will also be people trying to convince others that there is a magic pill to help you achieve all your fitness goals in no time. However, in reality, none of that is real. It takes hard work and determination to get to the place you want to be in your health and fitness.
Today, we’re going to dive into two of the most popular and common movements you will find in most workouts across different sports and exercises. The squat and the lunge. Each movement has its purpose and benefits, but can either one help you get fit faster? Read on to find out!
Squats vs. Lunges: Which is Better?
The short answer is that neither is better than the other. These two movements target and strengthen different muscle groups. Aside from that, squats and lunges are part of the most common workouts.
They’re considered some of the most basic movements to help people improve mobility and body function. Lunges are just a variation of your basic squat. But in modern exercise, the two have become primary movements that help test and improve fitness.
Squats
The squat is a fundamental movement for all fitness levels. It strengthens the legs, hips, and core muscles and is used in sports, weightlifting, and more. In essence, the squat is an exercise that works a lot of muscles in the body. Moreover, it is a compound exercise because it works for multiple muscle groups while performing one movement.
Lunges
Lunges are similar to squats in that they target the legs and help improve joint mobility. Lunges are an important tool to help people with lower back pain, knee pain, and more. People need to step forward with one leg to perform a lunge while lowering their bodies down.
They will then switch to the other leg and repeat the process. At the end of it all, the person will strengthen the muscles in the hips and legs.
Why You Should Do Both Squats and Lunges
Both of these exercises can be a part of a complete workout routine. They work for the same muscle groups, but one is a compound exercise while the other is a basic isolation movement. This means that performing squats can help people improve their lunges.
When performing squats, while you’re doing one exercise, you will automatically be testing your strength, balance, and flexibility. If you do it right, you’ll be working for multiple muscle groups while doing a movement. The squat is a compound exercise, which isn’t only a great way to strengthen muscles and help improve mobility and flexibility.
On the other hand, lunges will isolate muscles and help you focus on one movement. It is an excellent exercise for beginners who want to improve their knee, legs, and hip area.
Conclusion
There is no real winner when it comes to squats vs. lunges. They can both strengthen muscle groups and help people achieve their fitness goals. But in the end, it depends on your goals and everything you want to achieve with your workout. Each of these movements must be a part of a complete fitness program. And if you have time, you should definitely do both!
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