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For this search, we used our favorite strategy: type the most relevant words (isometric exercises) into the Yahoo! search box and cross our fingers. We didn't receive any Yahoo! categories in the search results, but when we saw that the first web page result was an article titled, "Are Isometric Exercises Beneficial?" we knew we were headed in the right direction. The article turned out to be an answer to a reader's question, in the same vein as Ask Yahoo!. We quickly learned that the term "isometric exercise" means tensing a muscle and holding it in a stationary position while maintaining the tension. It turns out that
isometric exercises are especially helpful to people recovering from injuries that limit range of motion. We headed back to the search results for a second opinion. We scanned the list and clicked on a page from Fitness Zone. When we arrived at the page, we couldn't have been more pleased with the title: "Isometric Exercise Introduced." Fitness Zone offered a slightly different definition. According to the article, isometric exercises are those in which a force is applied to a resistant object. An example is pushing against a brick wall -- even though there is a build up of tension in the muscles, there is no actual movement. The web page emphasizes a few points for people thinking about isometric exercises: - To
increase strength, it's necessary to maintain a position in any one exercise for 6 to 8 seconds.
- The exercise should be repeated 5 to 10 times.
- Any one isometric exercise will only increase muscle strength at one joint angle. Strengthening the other joint positions requires repetition of further corresponding exercises.
- Isometric exercises on their own are not recommended for strength training. They are only part of a complete exercise program.
- If you suffer from heart disease or raised blood pressure, you should steer clear of isometric training. During the muscular contractions in this form of exercise, blood pressure can rise quite dramatically.
It seems that as long as you're flexing or applying force against something, you're engaged in an isometric exercise. The
great thing about isometric exercises is they can be performed just about anywhere and at any time, even while writing Ask Yahoo!.
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