Why Isometric Exercises – Belong in Your Exercise Routine

Imagine if you could do effective exercises in only 10 seconds, anywhere, anytime… without any equipment. This is absolutely possible with isometric exercises, which are perfect for anyone who wants to tone muscles and gain strength in a way that doesn’t require impact or full range of motion. In other words, perhaps you’re recovering from an injury or are taking your first steps to getting in to better shape, then isometric exercises make a lot of sense.

Isometric training is also valuable as a complement to HIIT workouts (high-intensity interval training) or any taxing workout routine, as it can improve joint strength connective tissue and strength balance. Plus, these exercises can be done anywhere.

What Are Isometric Exercises?

A common method of muscular strength training, isometric exercise or isometrics are a type of exercise in which the joint angle and the muscle length do not change during contraction. In other words, these exercises are done in static positions while engaging specific muscles, rather than being dynamic through a range of motion. Unlike standard strength training, isometrics allows you the freedom to practice them anywhere without needing weights or special equipment.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines isometric exercises as static exercise that involves sustained contraction of skeletal muscles against fixed resistance and does not involve movement of the joints or axial skeleton. They go on to explain that no external work is performed, and regular performance of static exercise does not generally increase endurance. Classic examples of these types of exercises can include hand grips and certain weightlifting moves. Also, movements in many competitive sports and daily activities also involve isometric exercise.

Another example of isometric exercise that is very beneficial is power yoga. In the book Yoga Exercises for Beginners: Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit, Increase Your Energy Levels, Feel Great and Lose Weight by Anton Devlin, Anton writes that isometric exercises are one of the best ways to strengthen the core.

Isometric, stemming from the words “same” and length,” simply translate to holding one position without moving. Power yoga uses isometric exercises along with numerous other postures that are designed to strengthen the core and back. Because flexibility, balance and power stem from your core, it’s imperative to train this area of the body. While most yoga classes encompass isometric exercises, the power yoga style focuses more on core work and the temperature in the room is typically warmer to help keep the muscles warm and release additional toxins from the body.

The Journal of Sports Science published an abstract by author J.P. Holland regarding studies of the differences between isometric and dynamic strength training. He states that strength training with isometric contracts produces large but highly angle-specific adaptations.

The study compared the strength gains produced by isometric training at four joint angles with conventional dynamic training. Thirty-three recreationally active healthy males aged 18-30 years completed nine weeks of strength training of the quadriceps muscle group three times per week. One leg performed isometric training at each of four joint angles and the other leg performed conventional dynamic training by lifting and lowering. Both legs trained at similar relative loads for the same duration.

The quadriceps strength of each leg was measured isometrically (at four angles) and isokinetically (at three velocities) before and after training. After nine weeks of training, the increase in isokinetic strength was similar in both legs however, the isometric strength increases were significantly greater for the isometrically trained leg. The good news is that the study shows that isometric exercises are very beneficial, especially for those that prefer a no impact workout.

How to Perform Isometric Exercises

To perform an isometric exercise, you want to use a muscle or limb to oppose the opposite one. You can achieve this same effect by pushing or pulling against any immovable object such as a wall, holding a firm medium-to-large sized ball with your hands and pressing inward towards the ball or even by holding a flexed muscle in a stationary position. The idea is to use your muscles to build strength by exerting as much force as possible against the resistance for a minimum of 10 seconds.

The most effective way to use isometrics is to incorporate it into a larger strength-training program, such as Burst training or a kettlebell workout. While isometric exercise offers great benefits, it is important to understand the limitations. Each isometric contraction only increases muscular strength in the exact position you are engaging, versus a large msucle group.

For this reason, you will need to perform various isometric exercises to help strengthen various muscles, rather than using a compound exercise that can work multiple muscles – think the squat exercise vs. a static squat. This is why it is best to think about isometrics as a complement to your weight training or burst training rather than a replacement.

Let’s look at it another way: The entire muscle isn’t being strengthened, but rather a part of it. This is because your muscles do not change length during isometric exercises in the same way they do when you lift a weight. You can improve the effects of the workout by doing any isometric exercise in three different positions. Essentially, tense the muscle near the bottom of the movement, the middle and the top of the movement.

A great example is with the biceps. When you are doing bicep curls, the bottom means with the arm fully extended; the middle means with the elbow at an angle near 90 degrees; and the top means with your hand near your shoulder; each holding for at least 10 seconds. You can do this without weights simply by tensing the muscle at each point.

Four Benefits of Isometric Exercises

The National Institute of Health reminds us that moving more and sitting less can reduce the risk of many serious conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and certain kinds of cancer. Some studies suggest that physical activity can have mental benefits as well.
In addition to the health benefits, these exercises are easy to accomplish. Here are some additional benefits:

1. Convenient style of training at any place and at almost any time.

Isometric exercises can provide a source of strength training at any place and whenever you feel like it. While there is some equipment that you may find useful for isometric exercises at the gym, you can perform these exercises without any equipment at all, making it very convenient while helping you maintain your fitness goals.

2. May be helpful to someone who is healing from an injury.

Isometric exercises provide a source of strength training without the impact that more complex exercises may require. For example, if you have a shoulder injury, a physical therapist may recommend some isometric exercises that stabilize the shoulder and maintain strength in that area so that the recovery is faster.

3. May help lower blood pressure.

The Mayo Clinic notes that a recent study has shown that isometric exercises may also help naturally lower your blood pressure since exercising at higher intensities can cause a dramatic increase in your blood pressure, specifically during the activity.
Regardless, it is important to check with your doctor before beginning isometric exercises if you have high blood pressure or any heart problems. Also, please note that isometric exercise can also increase blood pressure during performance; however, a regular exercise program generally helps reduce blood pressure.
A study conducted by the Division of Cardiology at University Health Network in Toronto, Canada suggests that isometric exercise training in young and old participants may produce reductions in blood pressure. In this case, isometric exercise training protocols typically consisted of four sets of two-minute handgrip or leg contractions sustained at 20–50 percent of maximal voluntary contraction, with each set separated by a rest period of 1–4 min. Training was usually completed three to five times per week for 4–10 weeks. Improvements in the regulation of heart rate and blood pressure have been reported.
Some key things to remember: never hold your breath or strain during any weight training exercise, as this may cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure.

4. Relieve depression.

American physician and cardiologist, Dr. Paul Dudley White, a prominent advocate of preventive medicine, states that “Healthy exercise is valuable not only for the maintenance of good physiologic function of the body, but also mental clarity, and a feeling of good health.”
It has long been known that exercise serves as a natural remedy for depression in all ages, in particular regarding how they feel about themselves. Self-concept denotes a set of thoughts held by oneself and about one’s self in mental, emotional, and physical realms. Self-esteem refers to the individual’s evaluation of his or her self-concept, and self-efficacy is similar to self-confidence in that self-efficacy is a level of certainty that one can perform a task or behavior.
As noted in the book The Principles and Practice of Resistance Training, one of the authors compared the self-esteem of runners, weight trainers and non-exercise groups using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale. A common pattern did not differ statistically between the running and weight training groups, and both exercise groups showed improved self-esteem relative to the non-exercising control group.

Isometric Exercise Routine

Isometric exercises are for anyone. While they are best when performed with higher intensity exercises, they are great if you are recovering from an injury, short on time or in need of nonimpact exercise, regardless of age. The elderly may also benefit from isometric exercises due to their non-impact style as well as the need to focus on the specific muscle you are working. It is important to determine a routine that will be effective and do your best to be consistent by performing the routine, and variations of it, at least 2–3 times per week.
Consider the different muscles that you need to strengthen. You can actually create a full body workout using isometric exercises. It is important, like with all exercise routines, that you do not hold your breath, but rather breathe through the exercises, usually exhaling at the points of exertion.
Following is a great workout that includes both upper and lower body exercises. Try to get through the entire set 2–3 times.

Upper Body Isometric Exercises

Ball Squeeze

Using a medicine ball, hold in front of you using both hands. Squeeze the ball as hard as you can holding the squeeze for 10–30 seconds. Release and repeat 5–10 times.

Push-Ups

Starting in the push-up position with arms fully extended, lower yourself to about half way to the floor. Hold this position for 10–20 seconds remembering to breathe. Repeat 2–3 times. If needed, start on your knees (keep a straight line from your knees to the top of your head) and over time you will gain more strength and be able to do the push-ups on your toes.

Plank
Start with your arms bent at 90 degrees and rest on your elbows directly below your shoulders. Hold the plank position for 10–30 seconds while engaging your core, hips and butt. Repeat the exercise for 5–10 times. Again, if needed, start on your knees and over time you will gain more strength and be able to do the planks on your toes.

Lower Body Isometric Exercises

Squats

Place your back against a wall (or no wall) and lower yourself until your quadriceps are parallel to the floor. Extend your arms in front of you. Keep your upper body upright (do not lean over). The easiest way to think of the isometric squat is to sit in an imaginary chair, placing your weight on your heels. Hold for 10–20 seconds, engaging your abs, quads and butt. Release. Repeat 10–20 times.

Lunges

Stand with legs staggered, right foot in front and spread far enough apart that you can lower yourself near the ground. Left knee is almost touching the ground and calf is parallel to the ground. Right quadricep is parallel to the ground and your knee should not extend past your foot.

If you need help with balance, place a sturdy chair next to you. Start in the standing staggered position and lower yourself to the ground with hips slightly tucked, holding the position for 10–20 seconds while engaging the butt and and right upper leg. Repeat 10–20 times on that side, then repeat the same number of repetitions on the other side.

Hip Lifts

Lie face up on the floor. Knees are up and feet are on the ground hip distance apart with your heels near your butt. Push your hips into the air and squeeze your butt as hard as you can while engaging your abs for 10–30 seconds. Want a little more resistance? Hold a weight on your abdominal and hip area. Release and repeat 10–20 times.

Potential Risks of Isometric Training

You should always consult your physician before starting any exercise program. Isometric exercise can cause the blood pressure to increase because when a muscle contracts, blood is forced out of the muscle tissue and into the bloodstream. Also, never hold your breath during exercise, as this can cause your blood pressure to increase.