The aim of the present study was to investigate the consciousness among young people (n = 494) of training body part(s) by showing participants a picture of an exercise, through a questionnaire-based survey. Participants were shown a picture of a Back Squat, and were asked which body part(s) they felt was being trained in the picture. Participants who had no experience of doing squatting exercises (NO-SQUAT group, n = 102) and participants who were experienced in terms of doing squatting exercises and weight training under appropriate supervision (INSTRUCTED group, n = 146) were selected for the analysis. On seeing the picture, more than half of the NO-SQUAT group felt that the Back Squat was to train not only their lower body but also another body part(s); among these participants, approximately 70% felt that a Back Squat was appropriate to train their upper torso and arms too. Further, the NO-SQUAT group had made significantly fewer attempts to consciously train their gluteal and knee flexor muscles, and had made significantly more attempts to consciously train their upper torso and arms during the squatting exercises than the INSTRUCTED group had. These results suggest that to do exercises by referring to only a picture may result in the participants not properly understanding how the body part(s) should be trained during exercise. Therefore, to enhance the benefits of training, individuals need to be instructed, under appropriate supervision, on correct technique as well as knowledge about the exercise.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the consciousness among young people (n = 1016) on training body part(s), using a questionnaire-based survey showing participants a picture of a single-joint exercise. The participants were shown a picture of knee-extension exercise (KNEE-EXT), and were asked to identify the body part(s) they felt were being trained. On seeing the picture, more than 90% of the participants felt that KNEE-EXT can train the anterior thigh part. However, more than 90% of the participants who had no experience doing KNEE-EXT felt that the exercise trained not only the anterior thigh part but also other parts, including the trunk, the posterior thigh, and the upper limb. Among those participants who had performed KNEE-EXT without the experience of strength-training under professional supervision, approximately 80% felt that the exercise was appropriate to train not only the anterior thigh but also other parts. These results suggest that performing exercises by referring to only a picture may result in the individuals not properly understanding how the body part(s) should be trained during exercise, even in single-joint exercises. Appropriate supervision is of even greater importance especially for strength-training beginners. Furthermore, even among participants who had an experience of exercise under professional supervision, approximately 60% had a similar response. Therefore, to enhance the benefits of exercises, individuals (even those who have had experience in training under professional supervision) should always be instructed under appropriate supervision on the correct technique and knowledge about the exercises.