Why Isometric Exercises?
Two kinds of muscle fibers make up the musculoskeletal system. One is fast-twitch muscle fiber. The other is slow-twitch muscle fiber. Muscles have both types of fibers but usually one fiber type dominates a muscle group. Our postural muscles have mostly slow-twitch fiber. In the gym, when we’re ‘pumping iron’ and doing aerobic exercises, we’re affecting fast-twitch muscle fiber or phasic muscles. What’s happening to our postural muscles? Not much. So exercises to strengthen phasic muscles don’t improve posture. When phasic muscles fatigue and/or when they’re injured they go flaccid and collapse. Postural muscles react very differently from phasic muscles when they’re injured or fatigued: they spasm. And the way postural muscles spasm is rarely even, either side-to-side or front-to-back. That’s why poor posture distorts our appearance because our spine is no longer aligned. Isometric exercises, which involve pushing against a force that moves very slowly or doesn’t move at all, help el
Related Questions
- May I do other exercises (plyometrics, jump rope, jump shoes, jump jacks, etc.) and your programs’ isometric resistance training exercises at the same time?
- What is the difference between isotonic exercises, isometric exercises and yogic postures or asanas?
- Are Isometric Exercises Effective for Muscle Strengthening?
