Muscle Building Information

Increase Your Training Intensity - Negative Repetitions


You can only build muscle tissue if you can generate progressively stronger muscular contractions, so this calls for an emphasis on finding ways to increase exercise intensity. This should not be confused with exercise duration as maximum training intensity will actually shorten the time needed to achieve maximal muscular growth.

In an earlier article I outlined the ways in which you can intensify your training. Here we'll focus on the role that negative repetitions have to play in intensifying the training effect.

At the most basic level, human muscles have three types of strength:

1. Positive strength - the ability to raise a weight.

2. Static strength - the ability to hold a weight.

3. Negative strength - the ability to lower a weight.

Many bodybuilders concentrate primarily on their muscles' positive and static strength but equal focus should be given to negative strength, or lowering the weight, if true muscle failure is to be achieved. You can emphasize this aspect of training by completing a set of negative reps after reaching positive failure.

You'll need one or two partners to lift the weight to the top position so that you can lower it under your own control. Once you can no longer control the descent, the set ends. Take special care with leg exercises and avoid negative squats to protect the knees.

Beginners should not attempt negative reps while intermediate and advanced bodybuilders can be imaginative in how they incorporate negative reps into their training programs.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Examiner.com

Can I build muscle and keep my six pack??
Examiner.com - Jun 29, 2008
Yes, you can keep your six pack and build muscle. However, it is extremely difficult and you almost need to hire a nutritionist to do it. ...


Do we have the technology to build a bionic human?
New Scientist (subscription), UK - Jul 4, 2008
The most common are pacemakers, which take over from the clumps of cells that synchronise heart muscle with pulsing electricity. ...


News & Observer

Build muscle with exercise
News & Observer, NC - Jun 18, 2008
If you want to build muscle, work your muscles -- and eat a well-balanced diet. By Suzanne Havala Hobbs, CorrespondentComment on this story What's the best ...


E. Texas group hopes prosthetics foster independence in Sierra Leone
Dallas Morning News, TX - 9 hours ago
Knee-replacement surgery is fairly common, but replacing a knee for a person with no lower limb of muscle, nerve and bone is a much greater biomechanical ...


Now, a T-shirt that 'can measure your muscular activity'
Hindu, India - Jul 5, 2008
According to them, the prototype cloth contains small sensors that measure the electrical activity of contracting muscle tissue -- in fact, ...


NewsOK.com (subscription)

Problems can bring opportunities to build psychological 'muscle'
NewsOK.com (subscription), OK - Jun 16, 2008
How do you build muscle? You lift weights, do sit-ups and push-ups, jog, etc. Any muscle that is not allowed to work will atrophy. ...


Finally, some WTC realism
Newsday, NY - 7 hours ago
11 Memorial to 2011 - and then apply the muscle needed to meet that schedule. Finishing the memorial by the 10-year anniversary of the attacks would be an ...


Building Strength and Muscle without Illegal Substances
South Idaho Press, ID - 21 hours ago
... creator of Endothil CR, says that body builders and athletes are using this product instead of steroids to build and sustain strength and muscle mass. ...


Lack of respect? Race walking relegated to the parking lot ...
ESPN - 12 hours ago
"It's less stressful on your body than running and it uses almost every muscle in the body. You build up your triceps without you even noticing. ...


Local seniors say they don't have to drink the water in Seminole ...
Orlando Sentinel, FL - 5 hours ago
Bright-colored plastic noodles and Styrofoam weights add resistance to build muscle strength. Bob Boomhower walked over to the Winter Springs Therapy Pool ...

build muscle - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.