Isometric for rapid strength gains... o'rly

[xRichx]

In thier place, they're quite good exercises, but for say triceps, unless your job is to push busses, or look good holding a really heavy bench press at a certain position, but not able to raise or lower it properly, then I think they're pointless for alot of groups.

However, your grip strength is isometric, and that's pretty damned important.

Also, I'm guessing they're good for improving on a weak range on any excersise movement.

[HBK]

Although I've very rarely done them (I can't find time) I have certainly found that isometrics work well at gain strength quickly, they can be a little boring at times though. In case you can't imagine how you could do this with various muscles, here are the 8 basic isometric exercises

Press Lockout
Press Start
Rise On Toes
Pull
Parallel Squat
Shoulder Shrug
Dead-weight lift
Quarter Squat

[adguig]

They are excellent for breaking through plateus. If you often get stuck at the chest on the bench press for example you can use a power rack and have one bar at the chest, one bar a few inches above. Press an empty or half-loaded oly bar hard as you can against the top pin for a set number of reps/sets to help you blast through that ROM and allow you to move more weight in the overall movement itself.

[allthegoodnamesaregone]

Theory and practice are always to different animals. No doubt she's right but there will be little gains over the long run adding them in. Besides when you get strong enough you'll not be wanting to add even more weight to the bar it will just get dangerous.

[MartinM]

If the teacher won't back up what she is saying...... she's an idiot. If one of my students asked me a question first off i'd be suprised they were awake but most of all i'd answer it as best I could and if I couldnt fully answer it i'd go away, find the research to back it up and then explain it.

Personally I wouldn't have thought isometrics are better than eccentrics for rapid, short term strength gains.... but hey, maybe she knows something I don't.....