What Type Of Exercise Involves No Movement?

Typically when you think of an exercise program, you think of movement throughout. However, there are two circumstances in which there is no movement of your muscles or joints. Isometric exercise is a form of resistance training that involves a contraction of the muscle, but not subsequent moving. A static stretch is a useful component to an exercise program, but again involves only a stretch of the muscle but no movement of it or its joint.

Isometric Contractions

Isometric exercise involves strengthening the muscles in a manner that does not involve movement. Normally, when you lift, push or pull against a force the length of your muscle changes to facilitate the movement. But, since isometric exercise involves no movement, your muscle still contracts but does not alter its size. To put this in perspective, think of carrying a heavy bag of groceries -- you are holding something heavy but your muscle does not need to change its shape to facilitate the force.

Isometric Exercise Usefulness

Isometric training is useful, depending on your goals. Many times isometric training is used in a rehab type setting. Its effects still help train the muscles you are using, but this training is easier on the joints. A person suffering from arthritis or rehabbing an injured joint may do well to use isometric training. In sport, isometric training is used to overcome a "sticking point" in range of motion. Training a specific angle of a lift isometrically can help strengthen your muscle at that specific point.

Static Stretching

Static stretching is a commonly used form of stretching your muscles and connective tissue. There are two forms of static stretching. An active static stretch involves getting into a certain position that stretches the muscle and holding it there for an extended period of time. A passive static stretch is done while you are relaxed and another person moves your muscle into a stretch and holds it there.

Static Stretching Usefulness

Static stretching is a useful part of a warm up and cool down. Your stretching program should work all of your major muscle groups, especially the ones that will be used or were used during your workout. Static stretching both increases your range of motion of a muscle group and helps your muscles prepare for and recover from exercise.