P&P #15. The Concept of Isotonic Muscle Action Is Misleading and Misused.
Isotonic (same tension) muscle action is regarded as synonymous with 'dynamic' muscle action and casually applied in numerous texts as such.
However, it is extremely rare that constant tension is ever observed in an active muscle. The only time when constant tension probably exists (before fatigue affects it) is during an isometric contraction or over a very small range of quasi-isometric action. The Russians prefer to use the term 'auxotonic' and some Western workers suggest the use of the term 'allodynamic' to describe the real situation of dynamic muscle action (i.e. changing muscle length and tension). Others consider it all a matter of unproductive semantics. What do you think?
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