When it comes to building muscle and strength, one of the often overlooked elements is mechanical tension. Mechanical tension refers to the force created by a muscular contraction against an opposing force such as weights or bodyweight movements. This type of tension is essential for stimulating muscle growth and strength gains.
To make sure you are creating enough mechanical tension during your workouts, it’s important to focus on proper form as well as gradually increasing the weight you’re lifting over time. Depending on your goals, this could mean focusing on slower tempos in order to create more time under tension or slowly working up to heavier loads by adding additional weight plates each workout.
By consistently pushing yourself out of your comfort zone with heavier weights and slower tempos, you will be able to increase the amount of mechanical tension your muscles are exposed to. This increased stress will cause your muscles to adapt, growing bigger and stronger, in order for them to successfully perform under this new stimulus.
"This increased stress will cause your muscles to adapt, growing bigger and stronger, in order for them to successfully perform under this new stimulus."
In addition to slowly increasing weight and changing up tempo, it’s important to also focus on creating a mind-muscle connection during each exercise. This means actively engaging the target muscle throughout each lift by thinking about squeezing and contracting that muscle with maximum effort as you move through each repetition. By doing this, not only will you be able to reap the benefits of an increased time under tension but you’ll also be sure that you’re maximizing your gains from each and every rep.
At the end of the day, mechanical tension is an essential part of building muscle and strength. By focusing on proper form, increasing weights over time, and creating a mind-muscle connection during each rep you can ensure that you’re tapping into the full potential of this key element for maximum gains. So make sure to prioritize mechanical tension in your workouts if you want to see real results!
It can be tough to know whether or not you are lifting with good form and getting the most out of your workouts. Our expert Coaches are here to keep you safe and ensure your workouts are effective. Be sure to check out our Personal Training and Remote Coaching offers!
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