Isometrics

ic123 · 01-Jun-03, 03:09 AM

Hey,
I've been looking for some information on isometrics. I haven't found much. I have found a bit. It sounds very unusual. Is it only for toning your muscles, or can it build muscle too? Anyone try it? Tips, suggestions, ideas, etc would be appreciated. Also, I read about facial isometrics. I don't need to strengthen or tone my face, lol. What are the benefits of this?
Thank you in advance,
IC123

TheBigness · 01-Jun-03, 04:58 AM

i believe if you dont have much muscle (never worked out before) that will see results from isometrics and good diet. i have tried them a little but never for a period of time. i would personally stick with weights.

Maxima · 02-Jun-03, 06:05 PM

Full range of motion always equals more muscle stimulation, isometrics are for those with injuries where taking a joint through a full range of motion causes pain, or they are limited by complications.

Stick to the weights.

Also there is no such thing as toning muscle vs building muscle. Muscle builds depending on how hard you work it, muscle is "toned" depending on how much body fat you have around it.

ebon00 · 03-Jun-03, 03:46 AM

I think this depends on what we're talking about as "isometrics" here... If it's the functional isometrics of Bill March then yes, it can build muscle. Lots of power lifters regularly used isometrics back in the day (some still do) so it works OK for strength.

ic123 · 03-Jun-03, 06:01 AM

Well,
I didn't know much about it untill recently. My Health teacher told me about it. I had overheard my uncle talking about some guy he knew. Supposdly, the guy was huge, and did mostly isometrics. I don't know any details though. I found a book about isometrics. It looks like it was written in about 1970, lol. I've searched the net for some good info, but haven't found much. I've started doing the isometrics in the book. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Maxima · 03-Jun-03, 08:10 PM

From my understanding Isometrics are exercises where you just hold a position, like pressing up against a wall.

One of the first things you will learn in exercise science is that more range of motion (concentric and eccentric) always equals more muscle stimulation.

A lot of Yoga is basically isometrics and that's why I tell people to do it to relax rather than see any real fitness gains from it.

Just my .02

ebon00 · 04-Jun-03, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maxima
From my understanding Isometrics are exercises where you just hold a position, like pressing up against a wall.

As with everything else this depends on who you ask. Bill March and the old guys at York Barbell (Bill Starr among them) used what they termed functional isometrics which is basically using your static strength and pushing against an immobile object. Once you try this (use a power rack and push a weight against the pins) you'll get a whole new respect for isometrics. Remember the root of the word and you'll see that there's nothing about it that says non-weighted... And I would argue that muscular stimulation depends more on how many neural pathways that are firing at any given moment so ROM has little to do with that (although I understand the argument from a mechanical viewpoint W=FD).

Maxima · 04-Jun-03, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ebon00
As with everything else this depends on who you ask. Bill March and the old guys at York Barbell (Bill Starr among them) used what they termed functional isometrics which is basically using your static strength and pushing against an immobile object. Once you try this (use a power rack and push a weight against the pins) you'll get a whole new respect for isometrics. Remember the root of the word and you'll see that there's nothing about it that says non-weighted... And I would argue that muscular stimulation depends more on how many neural pathways that are firing at any given moment so ROM has little to do with that (although I understand the argument from a mechanical viewpoint W=FD).

Weighted or not you will not activate as many motor units because you are not required to activate new ones to keep the weight moving or keep it controled, all the bodies needs are met in the intial stimulas.

Also, all thoough you are forming crossbridges actin and myosin are not sliding which leads to less stress on the muscle fiber.

I do not doubt that isometrics can be hard but they will offer less muscle stimulation than full range of motion

TheBigness · 07-Jun-03, 09:34 PM

personaly i would only use isometrics if i was younger and just learning about exercise or if i was camping or out in the middle of nowhere and still wanted to get some kind of workout.

alucard · 08-Jun-03, 01:51 AM

somebody told me isometrics help with muscle stabilization
cuz there are muscle fibers that can improve in performance but do not increase in size, kinda like how a marathon runner doesnt have that much muscle. i hear isometrics help the fibers that help stabilize the muscle.

08-Jun-03, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maxima
I do not doubt that isometrics can be hard but they will offer less muscle stimulation than full range of motion

I would be very curious to see studies comparing full range exercises to isometrics.

TheBigness · 08-Jun-03, 09:38 AM

Try pushing against a wall as hard as you can, i dont know about you, but the stablizer muscles in my chest and lats start to twitch, but i dont feel it like i would doing pullups

ebon00 · 08-Jun-03, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBigness
Try pushing against a wall as hard as you can, i dont know about you, but the stablizer muscles in my chest and lats start to twitch, but i dont feel it like i would doing pullups

Well, that might just be because they are different exercises, eh? Push vs. pull...

Serious strength athletes have been doing isometrics for years in a quest to get stronger. They seem to have had success.

TheBigness · 08-Jun-03, 11:31 AM

I'm curious, do you have an article that with an interview of a professional althete who uses isometrics on a regular basis, i would be intersted in what they have to say.

alucard · 08-Jun-03, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheBigness
Try pushing against a wall as hard as you can, i dont know about you, but the stablizer muscles in my chest and lats start to twitch, but i dont feel it like i would doing pullups

okay u see this is what i was talking about. your are working your stabilizers and thats why you start to shake. i hear these dont significantly increase in size but by doing this you are still working them out. and yeah pull vs push is gonna make it feel different then pullups.