ok...I've been hibernating with the books and this exerc. etc test...The ones I miss are (hopefully) ones that would come from experience, which I do not have yet, b/c I can't find some of these answers in the book. The third question I know is there but it just hasn't sunk in with me yet...here goes....
1. What is the 5 point contact? I can guess (but I'm usually wrong) and I've looked online and can't seem to find the answer. Is this in the book and I missed it?
2. what are the benefits of open/closed chain exercises? I can identify them, but do not know the reasonings of who the various types benefit.
3. I just get plain confused about the eccentric/concentric movements. I understand that concentric shortens/eccentric lenthens and that eccentric is when external resistance is greater than force generated...but aren't they both occuring with different muscles at differenct points of exercise? Ex: in a squat...eccentric quads going down, and concentric quads coming up? Do I just have this totally confused? Please help me get this one.
Jan, one thing that helped me with things like this was to type it into google and see what came up (I was just about to type the answers, but I realized how much doing internet research really helped!). Five point contact and close/open chain were fun ones that I looked up when I got stumped on the same thing!
As for concentric/eccentric...that gets more clear as you realize how the muscles are oriented (insertions/origins/which way they pull). An easy way for me to remember it (akyoda will shoot me) is that if it's doing what it's supposed to be doing, that's concentric. When gravity is the operating force, that's eccentric. That still trips me up, too.
I was thinking that eccentric isn't always w/ gravity. If you are using elastic resistance (for example attached to a door and doing lat rows), the eccentric contraction would be from the elastic resistance being the motive force and the muscles being the resistive force (where on the concentric contraction the opposite occurs, the muscles are the motive force with the elastic resistance would be the resistive force).
thanks for the input...I'm still struggling with this concentric/eccentric though.. Here's a question from exer. etc...
Lying supine w/knees extended and abducting and adducting hips results in A. Ecc. contraction of hip adductors B. Conc. contraction of hip adductors C. Ecc. cont. of hip flexors D. Ecc contraction of hip abductors
Ok..I can eliminate C. But I look at it as in abduction, one is using adductors ecc and abductors conc. and vice versa when adducting. As ya'll probably know the answer is B. But since the question doesn't say any particular direction...what makes them say B? I don't know if that makes sense to you..do you get where I'm coming from or do I just have it totally messed up in my head?
thanks for the input...I'm still struggling with this concentric/eccentric though.. Here's a question from exer. etc...
Lying supine w/knees extended and abducting and adducting hips results in A. Ecc. contraction of hip adductors B. Conc. contraction of hip adductors C. Ecc. cont. of hip flexors D. Ecc contraction of hip abductors
Ok..I can eliminate C. But I look at it as in abduction, one is using adductors ecc and abductors conc. and vice versa when adducting. As ya'll probably know the answer is B. But since the question doesn't say any particular direction...what makes them say B? I don't know if that makes sense to you..do you get where I'm coming from or do I just have it totally messed up in my head?
Hi Jan, I think I see your point- that in each movement something is always contracting concentrically (agonist) AND eccentrically (antagonist)- so it's not a well-written question. But I think you have to assume they are talking about the agonist (prime mover) in this movement. So...like you say- it's not C because hips aren't flexing. Can't be A because in order to adduct the hips, the hip adductors are shortening concentrically- so that's not it. Can't be D, for same reason, when hips are ABducting, the muscles are shortening concentrically. B is the only correct answer based on my assumption of course! A very badly worded problem though!
Since you're lying on your back supine, then actually either direction (abduction or adduction) would be concentric because there isn't any gravity or external resistance involved.
You would need to use the prime movers in either direction to create movement. The only subtle resistance would be the back of you're legs against the surface you're lying on plus the weight of the legs (and I also believe there "might" be some internal muscle friction).
Thanks Nora, I'm glad I explained that in a way that resembled english
Sometimes I wonder if what I write or say actually makes any sense to anyone. I often ask my Piano students (after a long theory explanation) "Okay, was that even remotely understandable?" (that is if they're still awake when I finish )
Thanks guys! That helps and does make sense! I think I get what your saying about gravity... I just thought that was a very confushing question.
Scott...didn't know you taught piano! I also play! My dad was a minister of music all my life (what is more commonly known as a "worship leader" now) and all of us play piano, plus other intruments, as well as sing. Great therapy, too!
Thanks guys! That helps and does make sense! I think I get what your saying about gravity... I just thought that was a very confushing question.
Scott...didn't know you taught piano! I also play! My dad was a minister of music all my life (what is more commonly known as a "worship leader" now) and all of us play piano, plus other intruments, as well as sing. Great therapy, too!
Hi Jan,
That's neat about your dad, you obviously come from a very musical family!
I also wanted to add a little extra about that question (which IS a confusing one). Partially because it's an odd position to be working in to exercise. I guess theoretically with someone really deconditioned and/or obese w/ weak abductor/adductor muscles they might certainly benefit from something like this (because a side lying position might be too uncomfortable). Though it might be strange on their lower back. I don't know that I'd actually ever use that sort of movement for a client.
Anway.... w/ Concentric or eccentric, I just wanted to post another way of thinking about it.
Concentric is "against" either gravity or resistance (for example, elastic resistance attached to a door frame can provide resistance w/o gravity being a factor) or it can be "against" both gravity and resistance as in a dumbbell.
Eccentric is using the same muscles you used concentrically only you're now moving "in" the direction of gravity or resistance (or both) but those muscles are sort of being used in somewhat of a "braking" type function to have a controlled movement towards gravity or resistance (or both).
In the case above (supine leg abduction/adduction), there was no external resistance pulling you in either direction so therefore nothing to "brake" against in either phase of the motion, that's why with either abduction or adduction are working concentrically.
Now, if you were doing a side lying abduction (leg lift), then you'd be moving concentrically when you lift the leg and eccentrically when you lower it because you are moving against gravity. When you are lowering the leg you're abductor muscles are working like brakes to control the movement so your leg doesn't just come crashing down :)
You probably didn't need that extra explanation but I figured it was in my brain so I'd post it just in case it was useful:)
That "extra explanation" just made all the difference!! That made so much more sense to me! I had just been thinking about it as the "lengthening" and "shortening". Thinking it through like this will hopefully help! Thanks so much!! I had really been struggling with this!!
I wanted to say Thanks as well!!! I was having some similar questions, and your last explanation turned the light bulb on!!!! YEA!! Cannot thank you enough! Must be the musician in you (I am one as well, as is my husband and brother! You should open a tutoring service!
I'm glad that explanation helped and wasn't just me "babbling" nonsensically
It sounds like we've got lots of musicians becoming personal trainers, I guess there's a lot in common (technique, theory etc.) so it's a natural fit.
Well, I've still gotta remember everything in August to pass the test so I'm still feeling like I've got a LOT to keep straight in my brain (which sometimes seems to have leaks in it).
Also, I still make some dumb careless mistakes w/ the exercise etc. disc. I guess at least these days I realize "why" it's a mistake (where at the beginning I was just baffled as to why the correct answer was in fact correct :)). I guess researching all of those wrong answers is paying off, but I'm still nervous about the exam.
I keep having this fear that all the questions will look totally foreign to me and I'll be staring at the computer going "what"????? Other times I feel like I'll do fine.
I hope everyone who is taking it soon (or even later) will have great results!
) 
You have a great understanding and I know you'll be so happy after you pass on August 14th! 
