Which of the following is NOT a compound primary movement pattern?

• A. Squat
• B. Drinking a Glass of Water
• C. Push-Up
• D. Deadlift

Answer: (B)

Primary movement patterns are the big multi-joint, multi-muscle actions that form the building blocks of most training programs. A compound movement involves more than one joint moving together, engaging several muscle groups in a coordinated way.

The squat fits this as it uses both the knee and hip joints with the core and posterior chain engaged, producing a coordinated ascent and descent. The push-up also qualifies because it combines elbow extension with shoulder girdle movement, recruiting chest, shoulders, and triceps along with core stabilization. The deadlift is a classic hip hinge that involves both the hips and knees plus spinal stabilization, again a multi-joint, multi-muscle pattern.

Drinking a glass of water, on the other hand, is a simple, mostly single-joint action focused on elbow flexion (with some shoulder work) to bring the glass to the mouth. It doesn’t represent a primary movement pattern used to train functional, multi-joint strength. So it is not a compound primary movement pattern.