Banging out reps is pretty straightforward, generally speaking. Lift the weight, lower the weight, repeat. But if you break down the anatomy of a repetition, there’s more going on than meets the eye.

There are two main phases of lifting weights: eccentric and concentric. The eccentric phase is where you lengthen the muscle, and the concentric phase is when you contract or shorten the muscle. While ...

New sports science findings identify the eccentric phase of exercise—the lowering portion of a movement—as highly effective for building muscle and strength. Research shows eccentric contractions can ...

Once a week, I do a calf exercise at the end of my strength routine that involves rising up onto the balls of both feet, then lifting one foot off the ground and slowly lowering down on the other.

Eccentric exercise focuses on movements, or phases of a movement, that lengthen the muscles. Some examples of eccentric exercise include lowering into a squat or lowering into a press-up. In contrast, ...

Share on Pinterest Eccentric exercise may help build muscle strength with less strain on the body, which may benefit older individuals. DragonImages/Getty Images A lesser-known type of exercise can ...

Modern exercise culture has spent years glorifying exhaustion. The harder a workout feels, the more effective people assume it must be. Sore muscles became badges of honor, while gentle movements were ...