Comments on: Muscle Activation – Can a Muscle be turned off? http://nicktumminello.com/2010/02/muscle-activation-can-a-muscle-be-turned-off/ Hybrid Strength & Conditioning - Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton Personal Trainer - Sports Performance - Fitness Trainer Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:35:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Craig http://nicktumminello.com/2010/02/muscle-activation-can-a-muscle-be-turned-off/comment-page-1/#comment-1951 Craig Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:44:53 +0000 http://nicktumminello.com/?p=1211#comment-1951 This down regulation is more often a result of the muscle being longer or shorter than it's optimal length. If the length tension relationship isn't optimal, the force production of that muscle will be diminished. Restore the ideal length and achieving stronger activation will be much easier. I think many say a muscle is "turned off" when, more often than not, it is in a lengthened position, but sometimes it may be short and weak as well. Adjusting the bodypart (usually manually by a trainer/therapist) to reduce the length of the muscle (if it's long)and then asking for a contraction in the more shortened position will often result in a stronger contraction. This down regulation is more often a result of the muscle being longer or shorter than it’s optimal length. If the length tension relationship isn’t optimal, the force production of that muscle will be diminished. Restore the ideal length and achieving stronger activation will be much easier. I think many say a muscle is “turned off” when, more often than not, it is in a lengthened position, but sometimes it may be short and weak as well. Adjusting the bodypart (usually manually by a trainer/therapist) to reduce the length of the muscle (if it’s long)and then asking for a contraction in the more shortened position will often result in a stronger contraction.

]]> By: Positive Massage Therapy http://nicktumminello.com/2010/02/muscle-activation-can-a-muscle-be-turned-off/comment-page-1/#comment-1359 Positive Massage Therapy Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:43:23 +0000 http://nicktumminello.com/?p=1211#comment-1359 There is a similar attitude in the bodywork world: A muscle is either relaxed or contracting. I speak in terms of tonus, or amount of tension. As you say of activation, under normal circumstances there is always some amount of tonus, and relaxing a muscle means decreasing tonus, not "turning it off". I think there is one other reason to add to your list though: anesthesia. There is a similar attitude in the bodywork world: A muscle is either relaxed or contracting. I speak in terms of tonus, or amount of tension. As you say of activation, under normal circumstances there is always some amount of tonus, and relaxing a muscle means decreasing tonus, not “turning it off”.

I think there is one other reason to add to your list though: anesthesia.

]]> By: Mark Young http://nicktumminello.com/2010/02/muscle-activation-can-a-muscle-be-turned-off/comment-page-1/#comment-1351 Mark Young Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:45:39 +0000 http://nicktumminello.com/?p=1211#comment-1351 Amen brother! Great points. Amen brother! Great points.

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