Question

During a squat when is the eccentric movement occurring?

a) The eccentric movement occurs during the downward phase of the squat.
b) The eccentric movement occurs during the upward phase of the squat.
c) The eccentric movement occurs during the static phase of the squat.
d) The eccentric movement occurs after completing the squat.

Answer 1

The eccentric movement during a squat occurs when a lifter lowers their body, where muscles like the quadriceps and glutes undergo eccentric contractions, lengthening while maintaining tension.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a squat, the eccentric movement occurs when the lifter is lowering themselves into the squat position. This phase involves the muscle lengthening under tension as opposed to shortening. To illustrate, envision the downward motion of a squat where the hip and knee joints are flexing, and the muscles are controlling the descent.

During this phase, the muscles of the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes are engaged in an eccentric contraction, which means they are lengthening while still under tension, similar to how the biceps brachii lengthens while lowering a hand weight in a controlled manner. Eccentric contractions are crucial as they help in decelerating the movement and maintaining balance and stability of the body throughout the exercise.