Question

An isometric exercise is one in which the joint angle does not change during the application of muscle force. For instance, you can join your hands together, pushing down with one hand and pushing up with the other. In each arm, the muscles that provide the force are connected to the bones of the arm by tendons. If you increase the forces but keep the angles the same, the muscles will still contract. Explain how this is possible.

Answer 1

An isometric contraction occurs when a muscle produces tension without changing the angle of a skeletal joint. The muscles contract and generate force, but the joint angle remains the same. This is possible because the force produced by the muscles is transmitted through tendons that connect the muscles to the bones.

Step-by-step explanation:

An isometric contraction occurs when a muscle produces tension without changing the angle of a skeletal joint. The muscle contracts and the sarcomeres within the muscle fibers shorten, resulting in an increase in muscle tension. However, since the load cannot be moved, there is no change in the joint angle.

This is possible because the muscles are still generating force, even though the joint angle is not changing. The force produced by the muscles is transmitted through tendons that connect the muscles to the bones. So, even if the forces increase, the muscles can still contract and generate tension without causing a change in joint angle.

Answer 2

An isometric exercise is a form of exercise involving the static contraction of a muscle without any visible movement in the angle of the joint.