Types of muscle contraction

There are 2 types of muscle contraction

1. Isotonic contraction:

It involves muscle shortening as the myofilaments
slide. This contraction produces normal movements, such as bending the
knee, rotating the arms and smiling.

2. Isometric contraction:

It occurs when the myofilaments “spin their wheels”
without moving, causing tension in the muscle. This is due to the muscles that
are pitted against some more or less immovable object.

Isometric and aerobic exercises (types of muscle contraction)

In isometric exercise, muscles are moved through a short distance
against a high resistance, as in pushing or pulling an immovable object.
Isometric exercise is best for developing large muscles, whereas isotonic
exercise has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Isometric
exercise-increases the thickness of the muscle fibres and their ability to store
glycogen.

Exercise :

The muscle inactivity always leads to weakness and wasting of
muscles. Muscles are no exception to the saying “use it or lose it”. Regular
exercise increases muscle size, strength and endurance. There are several
exercises according to the needs and benefits. For example jogging or biking
results in stronger, more flexible muscles with greater resistance to fatigue.
Stamina formation is mainly carried out through aerobic activities, such as
running and swimming.

Benefits of aerobic exercise: Physical exercise is a major contributor to
health and can improve the body in three ways: more efficient heart, and
lungs, improved muscle tone, and more supple joints. It is also essential to
prevent obesity.

Due to regular exercise, blood supply to muscle increases,
it results in supply of more O2. Further aerobic exercises make overall body
metabolism more efficient, improve digestion and enhances neuromuscular
co-ordination. Heart beat enlarges, so that more blood is pumped out with
each beat, fat deposits are cleared from the blood vessels and the lungs
become more efficient in gaseous exchange. These benefits may be temporary
or permanent on the basis of regular and vigorous exercises. Aerobic
exercises do not cause the muscle to increase in size, even though the
exercise may go on for hours.

Aerobic exercises increase the adaptability of muscles and give greater endurance to muscles. To gain good health, it is suggested that a total of at least 20 minutes per day, of moderate exercise, to burn around 200 calories (837 joules) a day, is required. Regular exercise is preferrable to occasional intense sessions.

The bulging of muscles of a body builder or professional weight lifter
results mainly from resistance or isometric exercise in which muscles are
pitted against some immovable, or nearly so, object. Endurance and resistance
exercises produce different patterns of muscle response, it is
important to know what your exercise goals are. Weight lift will not improve
your endurance for a marathon race. At the same time, Jogging will do little
to improve your muscle definition nor will it make you stronger. Proper
exercise for proper goal is necessary.

Types of muscle contraction

1. Isotonic contraction:

2. Isometric contraction:

Isometric and aerobic exercises (types of muscle contraction)

Exercise :

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