What happens to our muscles when we exercise?

Muscles are integral to the way our body moves.

In this video, Michael guides us through a muscle function test with our volunteer Nduka and explains the different types of muscle contractions that happen during physical activity;

• isometric – stationary contraction in which the muscle contracts but the length doesn’t change
• concentric – the muscle gets shorter
• eccentric – the muscle gets longer

Ageing is associated with a significant decline in neuromuscular function and muscle mass. But whilst muscle deterioration is a natural process, a sedentary lifestyle can greatly accelerate it. As you move less, you lose muscle function, and as you age, you begin to lose the ability to regain muscle mass. Resistance training such as lifting weights, can help us to maintain muscle function.

Is resistance training something that you are aware of? Is this a type of exercise that you incorporate into your daily life?