splits tension?

[mr.FeaR]

When I do splits with socks on tile and just hold it, is that isometrics? It feels like I'm tensing like crazy but really I'm relaxing.

[Skilzat85X]

Nah it's not. It's just your other muscles helping to stabilize your seemingly unbalanced position. :razz:

[Ashtar]

Actually, that's wrong, it is isometric tension in the muscle, but not in the sense that people describe when talking about doing isometric stretching.

The difference is illustrated in the difference between 'holding' and 'overcoming' isometrics. Just holding a stretch would be like... holding a barbell up in a bench press. Whereas what they tell you to do in isometric stretching is like intermittantly shoving that bar into another set of bars and trying to push through them, even though you can't.

You pinch the ground intermittantly with more force than it takes to hold you up, like you're trying to pull the earth together. If you're on a carpet or have very slippery socks, than the stronger (and less stretched) you are, this can actually happen, your feet will come together. Usually you try to cause friction so that doesn't happen so you can apply more force with the muscle if need be.