Eccentric vs concentric muscle training for strength development

Two groups of male college students participated in an eight-week training program employing two different muscle training routines:. 1) isotonic-con-centric muscle contractions and 2) isotonic-eccentric contractions. Training procedures included a bench pressrepress movement and a knee flexion-extension movement. The exercise routine was performed three times weekly (MWF) over an eight-week period and consisted of one set of ten repetitions for each movement. Significant increases in strength occurred from eccentric exercising as well as from concentric exercising. Neither routine appeared to be superior to the other in its effectiveness for developing muscle strength.