What is eccentric/negative strength training?
A. When you lift a weight, as in a biceps curl, your muscle shortens during resistance and that is called a concentric contraction. When you lower the weight, your muscle lengthens as it works against the force of the weight, and that is an eccentric, or negative, contraction. We use both types of contractions in everyday use. Common examples of eccentric muscle work are walking down stairs, downhill hiking, lowering a child into a booster seat or crib, sitting down, getting into a car, and skiing.
