Strength training

Question 1

What is static strength ?

Answer 1

The ability to apply force against a resistance without any movement occurring (an isometric contraction).
The muscle length remains constant.

Question 2

What is dynamic strength ?

Answer 2

The ability to apply force to overcome a resistance where movement occurs (an isotonic contraction).
The muscle length changes.

Question 3

What are the three types of strength and ho ware they categorised ?

Answer 3

• Strength endurance
• maximum strength
• Explosive / elastic strength

The force and speed of the muscles contractions and anility to repeat them.

Question 4

What is strength endurance ?

Answer 4

The ability to sustain repeated muscular contractions (or a single isometric contraction) over a period of time.

Question 5

What is maximum strength ?

Answer 5

The ability to produce a maximum amount of force in a singular muscular contraction.

Question 6

What is explosive / elastic strength ?

Answer 6

The ability to produce a maximal amount of force in one or a series of rapid muscular contractions.

Question 7

Give a sporting example of each of the strengths.

Answer 7

Strength endurance: swimming, rowing, gymnastics

Maximum strength: rugby scrum, weight lifting, martial arts

Explosive / elastic strength: gymnastics, long jump

Question 8

What two factors does the strength of a muscular contraction rely on ?

Answer 8

• The muscle fiber type being recruited
  Fast glycolytic muscle fibers exerts greater force with a greater speed of contraction (than others)

Motor units consisting of FG are large meaning larger motor neurons. Therefore, motor units send faster impulses.
(Highest explosive / maximum strength)

• The cross section area of the muscle
  The larger the cross sectional area, the greater the strength or force of contraction.

Age, gender and training all effect the cross sectional size of muscle