| e increasing popularity of isometric workouts it stands | | | | you will be performing what is called a "Post Isometric |
| to reason that there would be a lot of confusion and | | | | Contraction." |
| untruths floating around. | | | | At this time you may be wondering why you would |
| In this article most of your questions will be answered | | | | want to do an isometric exercise instead of the more |
| and perhaps you'll get a new understanding of this | | | | conventional isotonic one? The answer is -- isometrics |
| scientifically validated form of working out. | | | | offers many advantages over traditional forms of |
| Isometrics workouts can be used with just your body | | | | exercise: |
| weight and or isometric exercises equipment. Of | | | | They can be performed anywhere |
| course, you/ll always gain faster and superior results | | | | Isometric exercises does not require equipment and |
| when utilizing the concept of "progressive resistance." | | | | isometric exercise equipment is very inexpensive |
| This can only be done effectively with an isometric | | | | They are so safe that they are used for rehabilitation |
| exerciser or isometric exercise equipment. | | | | Isometric workouts don't take up too much time |
| What that means is that you'll be using more than just | | | | typically only 7 to 10 seconds per exercise is all that is |
| your body weight in your workouts. | | | | required. |
| Using progressive resistance is the only known method | | | | They are one of the few exercise protocols that are |
| of increasing muscle size and strength -- even when | | | | scientifically validated to increase strength -- |
| using isometric exercises! | | | | dramatically. (Doctors Mueller and Hettinger) |
| The problem with bodyweight exercise is that at some | | | | It will completely reshape and sculpt your body |
| point you are no longer increasing your muscle size | | | | Isometrics are sometimes referred to as static |
| and strength but instead you are merely increasing | | | | strength training. This type of method of working out |
| your muscular endurance. (Slow twitch versus fast | | | | has been around for thousands of years. |
| twitch muscle fibers) | | | | Yoga and all martial arts utilize static positions such as |
| So at this point you may be asking yourself , "what | | | | the horse stance -- to build endurance and strength. |
| exactly are Isometric exercises?" | | | | Most if not all of the old-time strongman -- such as |
| Isometric exercises are based on the joint angle and | | | | Alexander Zass ( he was considered the father of |
| muscle length not changing when performing the | | | | isometric exercise ) Charles Atlas and others used |
| movement. For example, if you were to push against a | | | | isometric exercises to build their powerful physiques |
| door jam -- with all your strength -- of course you will | | | | and strength. |
| not move the door jam. | | | | Even Milo of Croton utilized isometrics to become a |
| And your arms will not move it either. This is called an | | | | six-time Olympic champion -- in the sixth century BC -- |
| Isometric Contraction. | | | | by every day hoisting a small calf onto his shoulders |
| If you were to compare this to an isotonic exercise | | | | and exercising with it. |
| such as a flat bench press -- the exercise movement | | | | There have been many others who have used |
| would be up and down -- and therefore you are | | | | isometric exercise. Bruce Lee, the actor and martial |
| working out in a full range of motion. | | | | artist -- used them as part of his kung fu training and |
| However, you may have noticed in the past that at | | | | focused on them more after injuring himself lifting |
| some point -- as your muscles tire -- you are no longer | | | | weights. |
| able to press the weight up through the entire range. | | | | Arnold Schwarzenegger in his book "Education of a |
| You may get to a certain point -- and get stuck -- here | | | | Bodybuilder" commented that he liked to perform |
| is where you have the greatest opportunity to | | | | iso-tension exercises right after he finished his workout. |
| increase your muscle strength. | | | | He commented that it forced more blood into his |
| If you will hold the weight in that position for | | | | muscle -- made them bigger and tighter. |
| approximately 10 seconds using 100% of your strength | | | | |