Powered By Blogger

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Isometrics - Ho! Ho! Hold'em!

Video: Theme #6 of the 2011 Yuletide Mania Video Series

Isometric holds work!

They recruit motor units.
They burn (your muscles work!)
They can be used as active rest exercises.
They help to increase muscle stability, making movements smoother and more efficient.
They can be used as substitutes when you cannot do an exercise full range.
If you have not exercised in a while, then they work to slowly get you back to speed.
They are used in rehabilitation.
They are used in athletics.
They are used in everyday life: carrying groceries, manipulating a steering wheel, carrying a full tray of food to a Christmas holiday gathering, and more.
If you have bad knees, they can protect cartilage more than a full range movement's job.
They do not require any equipment even though equipment and weights can be used as a progression.
There are more benefits, but lastly, isometric holds work well and the beginning of a workout and at the end of one. Following up this hold with full a range of movement does work to get the most out of a muscle group.

So, have you included isometric holds into your routine?

On another note, are you STILL using the same exercise routine from years ago or from last year? Why, let's change up that order!

Take care of yourself,
Derek

Derek Arledge, CSCS
Founder, TEEM Performance Training
Strength & Conditioning Specialist

No comments:

Post a Comment