What's Up with the Iso-Motion?

[Guest guest]

For the last few weeks I've been doing a few iso-motion exercises to my routine, and I can tell you they really burn my muscles. I know this has been discussed barf infinitum, but I'd like to know exactly what iso-motion does and how it differs from other types of exercise. One exercise I do is the chest pull. I hold my Steel Bow straight out in front of me, pull the cables apart, and, keeping my arms straight, swing my arms in an arc all the way from one side to another. This keeps a steady resistance directly on your shoulders as opposed to performing chest pulls with a chest expander in which the resistance decreases as you spread your arms out. It seems to me this movement constitutes a bonafide isotonic exercise. Coupled with that, you've got a live iso going at the same time, and the ring serves as a guide to maintaing the same resistance throughout the movements. To me, this sounds like one helluva muscle building exercise. But, is it really? How effective is it at building size as compared to using standard isotonic equipment?

[Guest guest]

Gentlemen, Sometimes a precise answer is not as good as an analogy.I liken Iso-Motion to the workout a gymnast does on the rings.Not as fast in its movement, but constantly varying in the strength levels at different positions of extension.The varying resistance as the gymnast changes position always calls for muscle exertion, but only within the limitations of ones strength. Exceed ones strength limits and the move collapses. Fortunately, Iso-Motion just moves to a lesser resistance, without falling to the ground. Iso-Motion tests ones strength levels in everyday motion, usually in natural joint rotation.Free weights

are an isolated movement and outside of a clean 'n jerk, do not incorporate full body/joint movement.Yes, there are exceptions, but for the most part one is isolating the muscle in exercise. A similar movement was when one would use a "medicine ball." By holding the ball through ones range of motion, a different dynamic tension was achieved. Respectfully, BullworkerTo: bullworkerclub Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 11:21 AMSubject: What's Up with the Iso-Motion?

For the last few weeks I've been doing a few iso-motion exercises to my routine, and I can tell you they really burn my muscles. I know this has been discussed barf infinitum, but I'd like to know exactly what iso-motion does and how it differs from other types of exercise. One exercise I do is the chest pull. I hold my Steel Bow straight out in front of me, pull the cables apart, and, keeping my arms straight, swing my arms in an arc all the way from one side to another. This keeps a steady resistance directly on your shoulders as opposed to performing chest pulls with a chest expander in which the resistance decreases as you spread your arms out. It seems to me this movement constitutes a bonafide isotonic exercise. Coupled with that, you've got a live iso going at the same time, and the ring serves as a guide to maintaing the same resistance throughout the movements. To me, this sounds like one helluva

muscle building exercise. But, is it really? How effective is it at building size as compared to using standard isotonic equipment?

[Guest guest]

Hi Shenandoah,

I've tried iso-motion myself and I think that whats going on is that it

simulates weight training, in the sense that first you make an isometric

contraction, this isometric contraction simulates a weight by creating tension

in the muscle like a weight would, and then you move this simulated weight

through a range of motion. Like you said this seems to be legitimate isotonic

exercise. Unfortunately I don't think enough people have done isomotion to

answer definitively whether it is as effective as using weights/cables,

personally judging by the pump and burn I get I think it's definitely similar in

effectiveness.

>

> For the last few weeks I've been doing a few iso-motion exercises to my

> routine, and I can tell you they really burn my muscles. I know this has

> been discussed barf infinitum, but I'd like to know exactly what

> iso-motion does and how it differs from other types of exercise. One

> exercise I do is the chest pull. I hold my Steel Bow straight out in

> front of me, pull the cables apart, and, keeping my arms straight, swing

> my arms in an arc all the way from one side to another. This keeps a

> steady resistance directly on your shoulders as opposed to performing

> chest pulls with a chest expander in which the resistance decreases as

> you spread your arms out. It seems to me this movement constitutes a

> bonafide isotonic exercise. Coupled with that, you've got a live iso

> going at the same time, and the ring serves as a guide to maintaing the

> same resistance throughout the movements. To me, this sounds like one

> helluva muscle building exercise. But, is it really? How effective is it

> at building size as compared to using standard isotonic equipment?

>