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From: wfs@mgweed.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sport
Subject: Isokinetic Exercise(Part 2)
Message-ID: <2572@mgweed.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 10-Aug-83 12:21:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: mgweed.2572
Posted: Wed Aug 10 12:21:50 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Aug-83 19:23:46 EDT
Organization: Western Electric - Montgomery Illinois
Lines: 31


                     *   Isokinetic Exercise(Part 2)   *

       This limits the speed  of  muscular  contraction  and  the  learning
     effects  produced by high speed exercise. Because an isokinetic device
     can be adjusted to very fast contraction speeds, however,  it  may  be
     possible to influence one's athletic performance by training at speeds
     which are closer to those of the athletic technique. This  adheres  to
     the  principle  of  specificity  in  training. Studies have shown that
     training at high speeds will increase the torque  developed  at  those
     speeds;  training  at  slower speeds does not effectively increase the
     production of torque at those speeds. High speed exercise  may  be  of
     signal  benefit  in training. Another advantage of isokinetic exercise
     is that it produces much less muscle soreness. This is thought  to  be
     due  to  the  fact  that  isokinetic exercise involves only concentric
     (shortening) contractions where only "positive" work is done. It  does
     not  envolve  eccentric (lengthening) contractions or "negative" work,
     which is thought to induce muscular  soreness.  This  is,  however,  a
     drawback  to  those  individuals  who  want  to  do  negative exercise
     training!  Isokinetic  devices  are  also  used  for  testing   muscle
     strength.  Specific  muscle  testing  allows  us  to check the balance
     between antagonistic muscle groups and  contralateral  muscle  groups-
     comparing  the  left  and  right quadriceps, for example. In this way,
     imbalances can be spotted and specific training regimes can be devised
     to  correct the imbalance. This is crucial to rehabilitation programs,
     as well as  to  injury  prevention.  In  contrast,  muscular  strenght
     testing  by  lifting  weights,  which is a more classical approach, is
     fraught with problems. While calibration in the one repetition maximum
     method  is  precise,  lifting  extremely  heavy  poundage  can lead to
     injury. Technique is also a factor. For example,  a  heavy  clean  and
     jerk  involves  more  than  sheer  strength:  balance, flexibility and
     coordination are important factors.......(cont'd. in part 3)