When we talk about the main types of strength in physical education, they are specifically: static strength, dynamic strength, relative strength, absolute strength, explosive strength, and resistance strength. This delimitation is configured from four aspects, which are the manifestation, the type of muscular contraction, the acceleration, and the resistance to overcome.
What do we mean by force?
Before getting into the subject, it is necessary to briefly review what the term refers to in a physiological context.
Strength is the muscular capacity that a body has, and that allows it to overcome some type of resistance through muscle contraction. This is related to the fact that every time an individual tries to lift, move, or even cushion an object, what we are doing is trying to counteract factors such as gravity or weight through an opposing movement. When this force that we apply is too high, it can stress the muscles, causing an injury. In these cases, a visit to a professional such as this physiotherapy clinic in San Vicente may be necessary.
Generally speaking, every time we do physical activity, exercise, or even in the middle of our daily activities, we are using the main types of force.
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Types of strength in physical education
The types of strength are present in all individuals, unless they have some special health condition since through these human beings interact with the environment, these vary from person to person due to conditions such as age, sex, level of preparation, particular conditions of the body, or even the degree of exhaustion at the time of exerting the determined force.
To help you better understand the above, let’s dive deeper into each of them.
Static force
Static force is known as the increase in tension that occurs in the elements that contract, without this representing a variation in the length of the muscular structure. This occurs because no physical movement is generated, which means that it is possible to maintain a certain position.
The above means that the effort and external resistance generated counteract each other because they have the same magnitude, meaning that there is no voluntary movement of the mass.
Within the sports practices, this group includes the so-called isometric exercises that aim to enhance maximum strength. However, special care must be taken because cardiovascular problems may arise.
Dynamic force
In contrast to the previous category, in dynamic force there is an increase in the tension of the musicians as well as a displacement of the structure. This is due to the presence of an anisometric or isotonic contraction.
In this type of strength, it is considered that the internal effort overcomes the external resistance. In addition, this movement can also refer to a lengthening of the muscle fibers, which in turn develops eccentric dynamic strength. The advantage of exercises that use dynamic strength is that they allow the level of strength in tendons and muscles to increase.
Maximum strength
When we talk about maximum strength, we are referring to that which is given by the superiority of body mass. This is also known as brute strength and refers to the maximum effort that can be given in a single muscular contraction.
This type of strength is mainly used in exercises such as weightlifting that require overcoming a given resistance. In many cases, it is not just about overcoming but also about control. In addition to all this, maximum strength can also be combined with a high speed of contraction or a high need for resistance.
In addition to weightlifting, this strength is also evident in Olympic sports such as shot put and hammer throw.
Explosive strength
Explosive strength has to do with a person’s ability to generate muscle tension in a short period of time. This is also known as power or speed-strength, where the goal is to exert force in the shortest possible period of time.
Some examples of this type of strength can be seen in competitions when weightlifters manage to lift weights quickly, in the elevation of jumpers, or even in the start of runners. Here it is said that what is involved is achieving the greatest acceleration in opposition to resistance.
Strength resistance
Resistance strength is considered the body’s ability to withstand wear and fatigue. It can be characterized in the short, medium, and long term within a given physical activity and is an effort that varies according to the time of application.
Here we can see that the fusion between strength and resistance cannot ignore the intensity of the load nor the time of the effort in order to determine which of the two has much more supremacy.
In this type of strength, the athlete seeks to overcome fatigue with respect to high intensities, and it involves body movements such as the closure of arterial pathways, lack of oxygenation, and high muscle tension.
Relative and absolute strength
The last category includes two types of strength. On one hand, relative strength is the amount of effort compared to body weight. This is evident in various types of athletes, such as gymnasts or jumpers, in whom the level of effort is high.
Absolute strength, on the other hand, is the capacity for greater resistance against a given force and is considered par excellence as the highest degree of strength. This is conditioned by the weight of the athlete and can be seen when we relate, for example, the weight of an insect to that of an elephant. However, beyond the weight that either of the two may have, absolute strength is the greatest effort that a being can make, regardless of its weight.
