What is an eccentric contraction?Simply put: it is when the muscle lengthens. It is the opposite of concentric contractions. An example is doing a biceps curl. Concentric is bringing the weight up towards your chest and the eccentric is slowly lowering the object.
Why is it important? Because although concentric contractions are very important, eccentric helps you control your body during an action. For example- Concentric contractions (shortening the muscle) helps you get up the stairs, having the Quadriceps firing. Eccentric contractions are your Hamstrings slowing you down as you descend the stairs, in order for you to have a controlled descent instead of falling and rolling down the stairs. Eccentric contractions also tax the muscle harder due to the increased time you are using the muscle. Concentric contraction is generally faster and takes less muscle endurance than eccentric. It is important to gain strength in both types of contractions in order to be effective in CrossFit and, more importantly, in life. It might be great to able to knock out X5 reps of 315 lbs. while bench pressing, but if you don't have the control of slowing down that lift... you'll be having some problems later down the road when you need to lift something and hold or slowly put an object down. Strength- Box Squats 3X5 (eccentric loading to bottom position, then a strong concentric movement powering out of the bottom position) CrossFit Hagerstown WOD for 3.25.13 10 Mins Every Minute on the Minute (EMOM) Perform-10 Thrusters With the remaining time perform as many as Squats with the remaining time. Your score is the number of squats you perform each minute. -Immediately following- EMOM 5 Minutes 5 Burpees 5 Dips With the remaining time perform a static hold in the bottom position of the squat.
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