Massage & Bodywork Licensing Practice Examination (MBLEx)

Question: 1 / 400

What type of muscle contraction involves no change in length but increases tension?

Isotonic contraction

Isometric contraction

An isometric contraction is characterized by muscle activity where tension increases but the muscle length remains constant. This type of contraction occurs when the muscle exerts force without changing its overall length, allowing for stabilization and maintenance of posture or the holding of a position against a resistance.

For instance, when an individual pushes against a wall with all their strength, the muscles engage and produce tension, yet there is no movement of the wall or change in muscle length. This is different from isotonic contractions, where the muscle either shortens or lengthens while lifting a load, and from concentric and eccentric contractions, which involve muscle shortening and lengthening respectively during movement. Thus, the essence of isometric contraction lies in the tension formation without any resultant movement or change in length.

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Concentric contraction

Eccentric contraction

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