Here are a few ways to add isometric exercises into your workout routine and get the benefits without the drawbacks.
To achieve the effects of weight lifting, you need to perform the exercises at many different angles and positions.ĭespite these drawbacks, isometrics are still being used and can be beneficial when incorporated properly into your workout instead of simply replacing it. With that said, overcoming isometrics can be used can be used on a variety of movements including bench press, squats, deadlifts, lunges, rows, bicep curls, and other exercises as a means of eliminating sticking points, increasing neuromuscular efficiency, and triggering functional strength and hypertrophy gains in targeted muscles. While bodybuilding works your muscles through the entire range of motion, isometric exercises only work a specific part of the muscle group at one time.
If you perform these exercises, make sure to monitor your breathing, and breathe steadily and evenly. However, this is an incorrect use of the method. This causes a jump in blood pressure that could cause serious problems. During isometric exercises, people tend to hold their breath. This type of exercise used to be so popular, so why don’t we hear much about it anymore? One big reason is that it was replaced by traditional body building - partly because there are a few drawbacks to this type of workout.
Even if you can’t fit in a full workout, you can take a couple minutes out of your day to do a few exercises and still benefit. Isometric exercises can be done in your spare time almost anywhere. They use walls and body weight to provide adequate resistance. Traditional isometric exercises require no gym membership and no expensive machines. Isometric calf stretch (Photo credit: Wikipedia)