Benefits of Eccentric Weight Training

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Verywell / Ben Goldstein

Eccentric weight training is often performed by athletes looking to build strength or to rehabilitate from an injury. Thanks to the muscle lengthening activity of an eccentric workout, these moves work together to elongate while strengthening muscles.

Alongside the muscle-building effects, eccentric weight training can also help in building flexibility and lowering the risk of exercise-related injury. As part of a workout routine, it can bring significant gains.

Eccentric Exercise

Eccentric exercises are also referred to as negative training or negative work. They benefit muscles by absorbing the mechanical energy exerted by the heavy workload. That energy is then released with what is called elastic recoil, essentially a spring-like action that facilitates the next muscle movement.

Eccentric contraction refers to any movement that lengthens a muscle at the same time it is being contracted. It is a braking force that directly opposes the shortening of a muscle (known as a concentric contraction). For example, as you lower your arm in a biceps curl, that lengthening movement would be considered eccentric. The lifting of the weight would be concentric.

Eccentric muscle contraction was originally called excentric by Danish researcher Erling Asmussen in 1953 to describe the movement away ("ex-") from the center ("-centric") of a muscle. Other examples of eccentric contraction include:

Examples of Eccentric Contraction

Eccentric Exercise Benefits

Sports physiologists believe that eccentric training can build muscle size and strength better than standard concentric-eccentric movements. By focusing solely on the downward force exerted on a muscle, you can enlist heavier weights than you might otherwise be able to lift.

As a result, you may see improvements in the weight room faster. Eccentric training can help you get stronger in certain movements.

By working on the negative phase of a pull-up, pushup, squat, or any exercise, you get more proficient in that movement.

There may also be benefits for those trying to lose weight. While an eccentric contraction uses less energy and oxygen than a concentric contraction, the negative movement actually creates more force. This not only enhances muscle growth but also increases the rate of metabolism (the conversion of calories and oxygen into energy), promoting weight loss.

According to research from Wayne State University, a full-body eccentric workout increased the resting metabolism in athletes by 9% and for no less than three hours following the exercise.

Eccentric training often involves a partner who aids in the lifting of weight (the concentric movement) and stabilizes you as you lower the weight on your own (the eccentric movement). Alternately, you can focus on the eccentric movement by lifting a weight or body part quickly (say, within a second) and lowering it slowly (over three to five seconds).

Eccentric Exercise in Rehabilitation

Eccentric exercise is also commonly used for physical therapy and rehabilitation. Because eccentric contractions create more force with less energy, it is less likely to overtax injured joints and muscles. This can be especially valuable for elderly people who haven't the physical capacity for traditional eccentric-concentric exercises.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are typically treated with eccentric exercise. The downward movement is less likely to compromise the stabilizing ligaments of the knee. Concentric movement, by contrast, places extreme stress on the joint as it is forced to simultaneously lift and stabilize the weight.

Other medical conditions for which eccentric training may be helpful include:

  • Patellar tendonitis, also known as "jumper's knee"
  • Muscle-tendon injuries
  • Osteopenia diminished bone mineral density
  • Sarcopenia, muscle wasting related to aging
  • Tendinosis and other repetitive stress injuries

Side Effects and Risks of Eccentric Exercise

While beneficial, eccentric contractions are not without risks and side effects. The downward force exerted on muscle can protect against injury but will likely increase the risk of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

This is due to micro-tears that develop as a contracted muscle lengthens, causing soreness and pain 24 to 72 hours after the exercise. Repeated training can help reduce much, if not all, of the post-exercise soreness.

Eccentric contractions may also pose a health hazard if you lift weights larger than your maximum capacity. With something as simple as biceps curl, the lowering of excessively heavy weight can cause wrist sprain, elbow strain, and shoulder injury. To avoid this, you need to determine what your ideal lifting weight is.

Your ideal lifting weight is between 50 and 70 percent of your one-repetition maximum (1-RM). This is the maximum amount of weight you can lift with proper form. If your 1-RM is 50 pounds, you should lift no more than 25 to 35 pounds.

A Word From Verywell

When adding eccentric weight training into your workout routine, remember to do so with extra precaution. While the benefits of the workout can be significant, it's important to follow safety best practices, use a spotter, and not over-exert yourself as you level up your progress. With a slow and steady approach, you'll be able to maximize the benefits of the training.

5 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Vogt, M. and Hoppeler, H. Eccentric exercise: mechanisms and effects when used as a training regime or training adjunct. J Appl Physiol. 2014;116(11):1446-54. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00146.2013.

  2. Julian V, Thivel D, Costes F, et al. Eccentric training improves body composition by inducing mechanical and metabolic adaptations: A promising approach for overweight and obese individualsFront Physiol. 2018;9:1013. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01013

  3. Hackney KJ, Engels HJ, Gretebeck RJ. Resting energy expenditure and delayed-onset muscle soreness after full-body resistance training with an eccentric concentration. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2008;22(5):1602-1609. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31818222c5

  4. Lepley LK, Palmieri-smith R. Effect of eccentric strengthening after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on quadriceps strength. J Sport Rehabil. 2013;22(2):150-6. doi:10.1123/jsr.22.2.150

  5. Hackney, K.J., Engels, HJ., and Gretebeck, RJ. Resting energy expenditure and delayed-onset muscle soreness after full-body resistance training with an eccentric concentration. J Strength Condition Res. 2008 Sep;22(5):1602-9. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31818222c5.

By Paul Rogers
Paul Rogers is a personal trainer with experience in a wide range of sports, including track, triathlon, marathon, hockey, tennis, and baseball.