It would be interesting to see if you got any stronger after a time from working out in this manner by doing a regular set of some of the exercises and comparing it to the numbers you achieved before going isometric. If you ever do so, please let us know.
I’d think if any sort of contractile tissue is actually being added from where I was previously, I’d be stronger. I’m also thinking maybe not the first attempt back to actually moving load. Don’t know how much of the neurological aspect of moving might come into play. I would think though I shouldn’t have lost any strength on any particular movement. I’m sure I’ll try it at some point.
More video shorts on Yates: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Cpif2yTXNlM https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hRm7csMMArI https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MD2aU587GhY https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JBdRzdVLsPA
I experimented with static holds a couple months ago. Did it for six weeks with cable Fly, seated leg extension, seated hamstring, seated calf raise. I used a weight that I could do 12 reps with, about 3 short of failure. No science behind that. The last rep I would hold as long as I could up to 30 seconds. Just one set. Add weight if 30 seconds was exceeded. After 6 weeks I was stronger on all of those particular exercises. Notably stronger. I'm about to do the routine again.
Interesting. Do you think that was successful because essentially that 30 second static would get you to that failure point or closer to the point of failure than the reps portion? I was interested in isometrics because I train at home and mostly did them for my legs due to lack of machines etc. noticed great results so decided to apply it to my upper body. In my head, effort drives motor unit recruitment and it takes a heck of a lot of effort to hold a set of dumbbells in place. Also, due to the inverse relationship of the force velocity curve of a rep and its effect on fiber tension I figured a high degree of tension is generated with essentially nearly 0 velocity. So far I think it’s working.
Yes, it's a different kind of failure. Normally a last rep failure is relatively quick. You try, struggle a bit and drop quickly. At least that's how I fail with a traditional rep. Using the last rep static hold the weight is dropping much more slowly as I'm failing to hold it in place thus more time is passing through failure. Actually the 30 failure point can be, and usually is extended by another 15 seconds of a controlled drop of the weight. As a side note, the 30 seconds is purely arbitrary. Could be more, or a little less I suppose.
Interesting exchange about isometrics. Perhaps during tomorrow morning’s workout I will keep trying a little longer than usual when I reach concentric failure, before doing my extra slow last negative, which is kinda/sorta a bit like isometric work. But I just don’t feel right unless I first go to full concentric failure: it has been ingrained into my psyche over the decades and it just won’t let go.