Understanding Your Muscles and Resistance Training

There are approximately 430 muscles in the human body with about 75 of them providing the majority of body movements and postures.  Muscles tend to work in pairs with one contracting while the other relaxes, making a controlled movement.  There are three different ways your muscles can contract to create or hold a movement.  These include an isometric contraction, a concentric contraction and an eccentric contraction. 

• Isometric: a muscle contraction is created but no movement happens like pushing against a brick wall, you are using your muscles but nothing is moving.   
• Concentric: this occurs when the muscle is moving into a shortened position such as doing a bicep curl and moving the weight up towards you shoulder
• Eccentric: this occurs when a muscle is getting longer such as letting the weight from a bicep curl move towards with floor

There are multiple ways to improving muscle performance with resistance training.  Here are some the terms you might hear while in the gym.

•  Strength: the ability of a muscle to generate force against a specific resistance
• Endurance: the ability of a muscle to sustain or perform repetitive muscular contractions for an extended period of time
• Muscular power: is the product of muscular force plus the velocity of a shortening muscle

A good resistance program is known to enhance muscular strength, power and endurance and can stimulate the neuromuscular system.  Resistance training also has positive effects on other variables such as speed, balance, coordination and flexibility.  Medical issues such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer prevention and prevention of osteoporosis are affected by resistance training.  See an exercise trainer or an on-sight physical therapist for a customized resistance training program.  Physical therapy at Sun Oaks is by appointment only.  Please call Cresswell Physical Therapy at 244-7686.

Cresswell Physical Therapy and Hand Rehabilitation is located inside Sun Oaks Tennis and Fitness Center to conveniently serve members recuperating from injury.  Our office hours are Monday 1-5 p.m. and by appointment on other days/times during the week.  Gina Bacciarini has her doctorate in physical therapy and Suzanne Cresswell is a long‑time practitioner of over 25 years.  Cresswell Physical Therapy’s main office has been located at the same site for 20 years at 2449 Court Street, Redding.  We are expert in the care of neck, back, knee, shoulder, wrist, elbow, ankle, and foot injuries.                                              

 Most medical insurances are accepted.

Call us for more information 244-7686.