We see so many young guys in the gym training just for the sake of getting it done with. They just focus on the lift and bring the weight down swinging. If you are one of these, then you may be missing out on half of benefits from the exercise. Worry not, we’ve got you covered, read the article to find out how you can make the most of each and every repetition. Let’s first understand the types of muscle movements –
Types of Muscle Movements:
Muscle movement can be broken down into concentric and eccentric motion.
Concentric movement also commonly known as muscle shortening is when the muscle shortens while producing force. This happens when you are raising the weight during a biceps curl.
On the contrary, Eccentric movement also known as muscle lengthening is when the muscle lengthens while producing force, like when you’re lowering the weight back down during a biceps curl.
Eccentric vs Concentric Training:
While most people focus on the concentric movements, which is far from idol scenario, because from a muscle-building standpoint, lowering the weight (eccentric motion) in a controlled fashion is a lot more important than lifting(concentric motion) it.
There have been claims that eccentric training can create a greater anabolic response compared to its concentric counterpart, but there is no conclusive evidence.
Recent studies suggest eccentric and concentric training to have similar hypertrophic responses. Your best bet is to combine both forms of training in your workouts to receive maximum benefits.
Our best advice would be that without change much of your workout routine you can achieve better muscle growth by simply changing your focus during the same exercise, and concentrating on a different aspect of the same motion.
Go hit the gym and enjoy the benefits of working your body in a new way!