Types of Muscle Contractions

Muscle Contraction
Purpose: to maintain a position,
raise a segment or an object or lower
or control a segment or an object
Eccentric
Contraction
Muscle lengthens
Controls gravity
braking mechanism to control movement speed
Muscle Moment and joint direction: opposite
same force with fewer muscle fibers
Much of normal activity is eccentric contractions
Muscle injury and soreness related to eccentric
contractions
Agonist Contractions
Muscle contraction causing movement of a
body segment
Multiple muscles contributing to movement
Elbow Flexion
Primary: brachialis, biceps brachii
Assistant: brachioradialis, extensor carpi
radialis longus
Antagonist
Contractions
Muscle action opposite the motion
Passively elongates or shortens
Skillful movement: No continuous tension
in antagonist muscles
Controlling or braking actions