Last edited: 9/12/2021

1. TYPES OF CONTRACTIONS AND LEVERS

Musculoskeletal System | Muscle Mechanics | Types of Contractions & Medical Editor: Camilla E. Fiorucci
Levers | Part 3

• This contraction actually generates a lot more

OUTLINE force than the concentric one

I) TYPES OF CONTRACTION In general, in isotonic contractions:

II) LEVERS o Load force < muscle force → muscle
III)PHYSIOLOGICAL EXAMPLES shortens/lengthens
IV) REVIEW QUESTIONS In the graph:
V) REFRENCES

I) TYPES OF CONTRACTION
There are 2 types of contractions:
o Isometric contraction
o Isotonic contraction

(A) ISOMETRIC CONTRACTIONS o Tension/Time

 Muscles are always a little bit contracted because
Isometric contraction: generates a lot of
of the muscle tone
tension, however the force generated
 When contraction begins → tension increases
is smaller than the resistance create by
the load

o Length/Time
 Starting from relaxation point, whenever
o On the graph:
contraction begins, the length decreases

II) LEVERS
A lever is a rigid structure, where movement occurs
around a fixed point called fulcrum.
There are 3 classes:
o Class 1
o Class 2
 Tension/Time: o Class 2
• When contraction hasn’t begun yet, the
tension is low (A) CLASS 1 LEVERS
• When contraction begins, there’s a quick
increase in tension
• It reaches the Max Tension (10N) and forms a
plateau
• Then tension starts decreasing and we go
back to resting point
 Length/time
• The length is higher closer to the resting point,
because the muscle isn’t contracting yet
• When contraction begins, the length doesn’t
change

(B) ISOTONIC CONTRACTION

Isotonic contractions can be of 2
types:
o Concentric: more common
 Load force < Muscle force

 Eccentric: happens when we

have to lower the load slowly
→ the tension created is very Rare
high, because this movement requires a lot of The fulcrum is located at the center of the rod.
force o The load is located on one end of the rod, at a certain
• The muscle lengthens distance r from the fulcrum, and it generates a force
pushing down

TYPES OF CONTRACTIONS AND LEVERS MUSCULOSKELETAL: Note #9 1 of 3

  𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 = 𝑟𝑟 × 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
• This Torque generates a movement in a
counter-clockwise direction.
o The effort force, which is the force created by us, is
on the opposite end of the rod, and a certain distance
r rod, a certain distance r, and generates an upward
 It also generates a torque:
• 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 = 𝑟𝑟 × 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
• Creates a clockwise rotation
o The direction in which the rod moves depend on
which one is the bigger force
o The Load is located at the opposite extremity, a
certain distance r, generating a downwards force
 Creates a Torque rotating in the clockwise
direction
o The effort force is located about halfway through the
force
 The Effort Torque is rotating in the counter-
clockwise direction

• Force arm = 25 m • Meant for speed

• Resistance arm = 10 m
III) PHYSIOLOGICAL EXAMPLES
• Effort force = Load force = 1N
(A) CLASS 1

 If Force arm > Resistance arm → Mechanical

advantage (MA)
• Utilized for power movements
 If Force arm < Resistance arm → Mechanical
Disadvantage (MD)
• Doesn’t generate a lot of force, utilized for
speed and direction

(B) CLASS 2

Example: posterior neck muscles (Trapezium, splenius

Rare
Fulcrum is located towards one extremity of the rod.
o The load is located about halfway the rod (r), and
generates a downwards force
 It creates a Torque that tries to rotate the rod in a
clockwise direction.
o The Effort force is located at the extremity opposite to
the fulcrum, at a certain distance r, and pushes
upwards
 Generates a Torque rotating counter-clockwise
capitis), extend the neck
o The Atlanto-occipital articulation joint is the fulcrum
o The head tends to go down, because of gravity: Load
Force
 Generates a counter-clockwise torque
o We want out head to stay up, so the Effort force is
pushing downwards but from the other side
 Generates a clockwise torque
Another example is the triceps
Rare lever, not many examples are found in the body.
(B) CLASS 2

(C) CLASS 3

The fulcrum is the toes pushing against the ground

o The load is the body weight, pushing over the ankle
joint
 Exhibits downwards force → generates a
clockwise Torque
o We need to generate a Torque in the opposite
direction, possible thanks to the gastrocnemius and
soleus muscles → pull Achilles’ tendon upwards
Most common
 Generates a torque in the counter-clockwise
Fulcrum is at one extremity of the rod
direction

2 of 3 MUSCULOSKELETAL: Note #9 TYPES OF CONTRACTIONS AND LEVERS

 (C) CLASS 3

Very common
Example: contraction of biceps
o The fulcrum is at the elbow joint
 The load is the dumbbell, which has a force
pushing downwards
• Generates a torque rotating counter-clockwise
 The effort is done by our muscles (biceps brachii,
brachialis) when they contact
• Generate an Effort torque rotating clockwise

IV) QUESTIONS
1) Question 1: in a class 3 lever, the Load force is 7N,
the Load arm is 10m, and the Effort arm is 5m. How
much does the effort force have to be in order to
balance the Load?
a) 14N
b) 21N
c) 9N
d) 10N

2) Question 2: Where in the body can we find a class 1

lever?
a) Biceps brachii and brachialis at the elbow
b) Ankle joint
c) Triceps
d) Knee joint

3) Question 3: what’s the difference between isometric

and isotonic contractions?
a) In isometric contraction there is lengthening of the
muscle, while in the isotonic there isn’t
b) Isometric contractions can be of 2 types: concentric
and eccentric
c) The isometric contractions generates less tension
than the isotonic contraction
d) In the isometric contraction the Load force > muscle
force

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

V) REFERENCES

TYPES OF CONTRACTIONS AND LEVERS MUSCULOSKELETAL: Note #9 3 of 3