Health Fitness

The many different types of force

There are many different types of strength… and all must be considered when forming an effective physical training program.

What makes someone strong?

Well, that’s not an easy question to answer…because it depends on which of the many different types of force you’re talking about.

Someone may exhibit great competence in one aspect of strength while being completely lacking in another.

To understand this better, let’s talk about three of the most important types of strength: Maximum Strength, Explosive Strength, and Endurance Strength…

Maximal force is the amount of force that can be generated from a total effort…regardless of time or body weight.

Maximal strength can be displayed through three types of muscle actions…

Concentric force occurs when the muscle shortens against resistance, such as when lifting a weight.

Eccentric force occurs when the muscle lengthens when it yields to or tries to overcome resistance, such as when controlling a weight while lowering.

Static force occurs when muscle contracts against immovable resistance or contracts to prevent unwanted movement.

Explosive Force is the force per unit of time, and is also known as Velocity Force.

There are different types of explosive force…

Initial Strength is the ability to recruit as many muscle fibers as possible instantly at the start of the movement… It’s the kind of force needed to quickly accelerate a load from rest.

Acceleration force is how long you can maintain the maximum number of recruited muscle fibers after the initial force. Once the initial movement begins, the rate of force development is the acceleration… It is what will cause the load to move very quickly.

Strength Endurance is the ability to be as strong as possible, for as long as possible.

Strength endurance is characterized by being able to perform a movement repeatedly over an extended period of time without being overcome by fatigue or sacrificing form.

Now let’s add a couple more types of strength…

Relative strength is the amount of force that can be generated from a total effort… relative to body weight.

For example… if two people have the ability to lift the same object, but one person is smaller and lighter in size, they exhibit more relative strength.

Relative strength comes into play when you measure your strength abilities against others, compete in a sport that has weight classes, or compete in a sport where you have to overcome your own body weight to perform a task.

Absolute limit strength is the amount of force that can be generated from full effort…with the use of medication and/or supplements.

Personally, I am the least interested in this type of strength because I am only interested in the strength improvements that come from proper and effective physical training…and not through biological manipulation.

As you can see… there are many types of strength to consider when planning a strength training program.

My suggestion…

Don’t focus on training one particular type of strength at the expense of all the others unless you have a very specific reason to do so.

For most of us, we don’t know what kind of strength will be called into question as we go through our lives… so train them all.

Therefore, vary your fitness training methods, stresses, and intensities while training for maximum strength, explosive strength, and force endurance to achieve the greatest performance improvements in sport, work, and life.

In this way, you will not only be strong… but strong for any occasion.

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