Variable Resistance Training

Variable Resistance Training: A Complete Guide to Building Muscle Jaquish Bio Medical

An Introduction to Variable Resistance • First, let’s address a few basic concepts, namely strength and resistance.

• Muscular strength is the maximum amount of force that can be produced by a muscle or a muscle group against resistance.

• That resistance can take two forms: constant (static) resistance and variable resistance (changing). The description “accommodating resistance” is also sometimes used to describe examples of variable resistance.

• Weightlifting is a form of static resistance. Free weights deliver the same amount of weight throughout the range of motion. For example, the weight at or near the bottom (weak range) of the bench press is the same as the weight at or near the top (strong range).

Where Weights Went Wrong • With static resistance, weight lifters are limited by their capacity in the weakest part of the movement. If that sounds wasteful, it is —both of time and effort.

• Instead of using a static weight chosen in accordance with our weakest range, wouldn’t it make more sense to match each part of the entire range of motion with an appropriate, and thus changing, level of resistance?

• Delivering the appropriate peak force at all ranges would certainly result in a better muscular response—in far less time—than conventional weightlifting.