Original data research from the PlainExercise editorial process. Every number here is pulled directly from our live database; nothing is hardcoded.
What this research covers
PlainExercise research ranks catalog coverage from a Free Exercise DB extract of 873 exercises across 18 primary muscle groups and 15 equipment categories (883 named variations), answering one distribution question per study.
Studies below answer one muscle-, equipment-, or mechanic/difficulty-distribution question each from the live catalog extract; they are descriptive inventory summaries, not training advice.
Open data: exercise-catalog-statistics.csv (Free Exercise DB extract · CC BY 4.0).
PlainExercise shows the distribution of cataloged exercises across primary muscle groups in the Free Exercise Database. Data from the open Free Exercise DB catalogue; see our methodology page for how exercises are classified by muscle group.
PlainExercise shows the distribution of cataloged exercises across equipment categories.
PlainExercise shows the joint distribution of exercise mechanic (compound vs. isolation) and difficulty level (beginner / intermediate / expert) in the Free Exercise Database.