MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS

CONTENTS: I. Muscle Contractions: Isotonic Contractions Concentric Eccentric Isometric Contractions Isokinetic Contractions

ISOTONIC CONTRACTIONS those which cause the muscle to change length as it contracts and causes a movement of a body part.

those which cause the muscle to shorten as it contracts. CONCENTRIC those which cause the muscle to shorten as it contracts. most common type of muscle contraction and occur frequently in daily and sporting activities.

ECCENTRIC occur when the muscle lengthens as it contracts. less common and usually involves the control of deceleration of a movement being initiated by the eccentric muscles agonist.

ISOMETRIC CONTRACTIONS occur when there is no change in the length of the contracting muscles.

amount of force a muscle is able to produce during an isometric contraction depends on the length of the muscle to the point of contraction. each muscle has an optimum length at which the maximum isometric force can be produced.

ISOKINETIC CONTRACTIONS similar to isotonic where the muscle changes length during the contractions. differ because Isokinetic contractions produce movements of a constant speed.

SLIDING FILAMENT THEORY method by which muscles are thought to contract. filaments slide in and out between each other to form a muscle contraction.