What Are Isometric Exercises?

Isometric exercises focus on muscles such as the transversus abdominis muscle, gluteus minimus muscles, gluteus medius, adductor muscles of the hip, and oblique, making them firmer and more strengthened. Engaging in isometric exercises is the best way to enhance the easy flow of blood through the body, and especially the muscles involved.
People suffering from orthopedic conditions benefit greatly from engaging in isometric exercises.

Some Benefits of Isometric Exercises

• Reinforcing and molding the muscles.
• Reinforce the lethargic muscle tissues on separated muscles.
• Improve body stance and spine arrangement.
• Improve bone thickness.
• Expand opposition force and perseverance capacity.

10 Isometric Exercises and their Procedures

Isometric Abs Exercises

The isometric abs exercises focus on the transversus abdominis muscle, gluteus minimus muscles, gluteus medius, adductor muscles of the hip, and oblique muscles in the body.

Procedure

• Lie on your stomach while your knees are bent. Ensure your feet are flat on the floor and as close to your butt as possible.
• Put your elbows directly under your shoulders.
• Your elbows and shoulders should be aligned, while your forearms are on the ground, and your feet are a hip-width apart.
• Ensure to stiffen your core and glute muscles. Your abs and hips should be raised facing the ceiling in a straight line together with the shoulders.
• Flex your hips forward and hold this position for 30 seconds.
• Repeat these steps thrice while going on a 30 seconds break.

Safety precaution: To avoid putting pressure on your back, endeavor not to position your butt extremely high or low.

High Plank

Here`s an exercise that plays a crucial role in strengthening your core muscles.

Procedure

• Go down on the floor and move your hands and knees, aligning your shoulders, while your knees are bent directly below your hips.
• Put each leg back at a time, assuming the high plank position being on your palms and toes.
• Wedge your heels and glutes together, as this puts your core in action, bringing up your navel to the spine.
• Maintain this position for 15-30 seconds, depending on how comfortable you deem fit.

Safety Precaution: Keep up a straight line from head to heel, and ensure not to relax your hip. Your hands and shoulders should be in a straight line, also being perpendicular to the floor.

Isometric Push-ups

The abs, middle and lower back, triceps, and chest are the objectives of the isometric push-ups.

Procedure

• Put your core in position while bending your back. Make sure your chest gets in touch with the floor, bringing the chest as close as possible.
• Lower your elbows and tuck them beside your body.
• Secure this position for a period of 5 to 10 seconds. Get back to your normal posture by stretching your hands.
• Repeat these and go on a 10-second break.

Safety Precaution: Ensure not to lower your knees. Keep your body balanced by standing on your toes.

Isometric Low Plank

Isometric low plank is great for the muscles around the abs, middle and lower back, biceps, triceps, and glutes.

Procedure

• Take your body lower to the ground. With your head upwards and chin straight, bend your elbows.
• Lift your body gradually while keeping your elbows straight. Using your arms, shoulders, and palms, support your body weight.
• Maintain the posture for five seconds.
• Lower your body and observe five seconds.

Safety Precaution: As you take your body to the low plank position, keep in mind that your entire body from head to toe has to be in alignment. People with knee problems should not put much pressure on their knees.

Barbell Isometric Curls

The Barbell isometric curls focus on the forearms, biceps, triceps, and shoulders muscles.

Procedure

• Grab a barbell and stand in alignment with your feet with a shoulder-width apart and your core active.
• Lift the barbell till your hands touch your shoulders.
• Remain in this position for 20 seconds as you sense the contraction.
• Rest and take the barbell to the starting position.

Safety Precaution: Always use weights that are not too heavy or too light.

Chest Squeeze

The chest squeeze is a chest strengthening exercise, and the target muscles are the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles.

Procedure

• Stand straight with your legs hip-width apart.
• Put your palms together and press them. Hold for 10 seconds.
• Lift your right leg and balance. Hold for 10 seconds.
• Lower your right leg and lift your left leg. Hold for 10 seconds.

Safety Precaution: Keep your back straight while doing this exercise.

Glute Bridge

The glute bridge is an isometric exercise for the back, focusing on the anterior deltoid, trapezius muscles, lats, and supraspinatus.

Procedure

• Lay on a mat while your arms and shoulders are relaxed.
• Stretch your arms in a vertical position, while your palms are in a face-down position.
• Ensure your knees are in close touch with your buttocks while bending your knees.
• Form an arch shape with your back and raise your pelvis.
• Suck in your buttocks while your shoulders and arms help your body to maintain the position.

Safety Precaution: it is appropriate to often take breaths while performing the glute bridge to avoid strained muscles.

Neck Stretch

This isometric exercise stabilizes the neck, with particular focus on the neck muscles.

Procedure

• Put your palms on your forehead and stand upright while your feet are hip-width apart.
• Extend your forehead in the direction of your palms, using them to stop the energy.
• Maintain the posture for 5-8 seconds.
• Place your hands at the back of your head. Repeat step 2
• Place your right hand on the right side of your head. Push your head in the direction of your hand.
• Stay in this position for 5 to 8 seconds. Repeat the processes for the left side also.
• Put your right palm on the side of your cheek. Push your hand inward and use your face to resist it. Hold it for 5-8 seconds for 3 reps. Do it for the left side as well.

Safety Precaution: Whenever you hold your head, ensure not to put in much pressure.

Wall Sit

Wall sits improves the quality of your thigh muscles while concentrating on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes.

Procedure

• Stand about two feet from a solid wall, inclining your back against it.
• Sink your base down with the goal that your legs structure a 90-degree point. Your body position ought to take after a similar stance you have when sitting in a seat.
• Hold this position for 15 seconds.
• Perform five rounds of a 15-second hold.
• To keep up this position, you will feel your thighs turning out to be more tightly and progressively exhausted.
• Investigate going to and fro between driving your weight down through your toes, at that point your heels. Passing down through your heels will focus on your glutes while driving down your toes will focus on your quadriceps.

Safety Precaution: Be sure not to release your knees past your toes, and when you put weight on your toes, don`t squeeze the knees.

Self-arm Wrestling

Self-arm wrestling targets fortify the muscles on the arm, particularly the biceps and triceps.

Procedure

• Twist your right arm at a 90-degree point.
• Join your right hand with your left hand.
• Push them together as hard as possible.
• While your right biceps keep your arm from dropping, your left triceps attempts to push your right arm down.
• Repeat the procedures on the opposite side.

Safety Precaution: Be sure not to back off on your shoulders.