There are several different kinds of muscle contractions, including isotonic contractions, concentric contractions, eccentric contractions, and isometric contractions. Many clients use isometric therapy in order to extend their movement range and flexibility.

Isotonic contractions are also called dynamic contractions, and they involve altering the length of the muscle against the resistance, and here there will be marked shifting in the muscle. Adding more nerve activity along with a higher blood supply going into the contracting muscles will cause the isotonic contractions. Remember, muscle coordination is affected by the lengthening and shorten the contractions.

Concentric contractions are where the muscle will shorten and the bone will be tugged, resulting in a movement. During concentric contraction, the muscles that are used for isotonic contractions pull on the bones. For example, during a bicep curl the lifting period of time is the reflex of the elbow and the concentric contraction.

The eccentric contraction is another type of isotonic contraction, and it involves extending or lengthening contractions when the muscle is in the actual act of extending. Soreness in the muscles and injury to the muscles is more common with eccentric contractions, even more so than with concentric contractions. The focus of these contractions is to slow down or decelerate the muscles using strong concentric contractors.

The last form of isotonic muscle is isometric contractions. Here, this sort of muscle may not shorten or lengthen, and this is because the muscle will add more tension to the contraction of the muscle without altering its length.