Eccentric Exercise In, Strength Training Out

For most gym dwellers, it is believed that a strength training routine is the ultimate way to “get in shape.” However, recent studies have shown that a decent amount of eccentric exercise may provide serious benefits.

A study that will appear in the January 2011 issue of the journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, demonstates that there is significant evidence that supports the theory of lengthening muscles as more beneficial. In this study, twenty women were randomly doled out various exercise groups that performed either concentric or eccentric movements once a week, for eight weeks. Congruently, each exercise group was tasked to perform leg extensions (targeting the quadriceps). The results were quite shocking!

According to the researchers conducting the study, the eccentric group displayed the following:

In fact, each category of improvement was significantly higher than that of the concentric group of exercisers. But it didn’t end there; they found that after two months the eccentric group’s resting energy expenditure (calories burned) increased 5 percent. This is very similar to what’s normally seen during an immense bout of endurance training!

Not only does this provide benefit for gym junkies and those looking to stay in shape, but it also gives athletes and intramural players a competitive advantage. Keeping up with seasonal sports like soccer and basketball can be extremely tough during the off-season, and this is a great way to smoothly kick it back into gear.

Accordingly, these doctors and examiners came to the conclusion that entertaining these ‘bouts’ of eccentric exercise each week may certainly gain better results than that of traditional concentric practices.

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