Muscle contractions

• concentric - the muscle shortens as it contracts

  • most common
  • occur most frequently

  eg. bending the elbow from straight to fully flexed (concentric contraction of the bicep)

  ISOTONIC
• eccentric - muscle lengthens as it contracts

  • less common
  • control or slowing down of a movement

  eg. the downwards phase of a press up (tricep muscle eccentrically contracts to slow the movement down)

  ISOTONIC
• ISOMETRIC - muscle remains the same length

  • static contraction of a muscle

  eg. pilates or yoga movements, holding a handstand
• 2 types of muscle contractions

  • isotonic - muscle changes length
  • isometric - muscle stays the same length (used in balance)