No One Talks About This

One of the MOST relevant yet least discussed variables in exercise is direction of resistance.

Direction of resistance is exactly what it sounds like - it indicates how something pushes or pulls us.

One can identify the direction of resistance in an exercise by drawing a straight arrow - known as a vector - from the point of contact of a force (where it is touching the body).

Here’s an example of a cable curl:

The direction of resistance should always be drawn from the point of contact of a force (my hand, in this case) in a straight line.

Thus, the direction of resistance is always indicated by how something is pulling or pushing us from a contact point.

You cannot identify a direction of resistance without a contact point.

The direction of resistance may change throughout an exercise.

In the curling example above, here’s what the top position looks like by the resistance’s changing direction:

Although the resistance is still “trying” to do the same thing to my elbow - pry it apart - its relationship to the elbow joint has now changed.

In tomorrow’s newsletter, you’ll learn how this subtle direction difference impacts the curling exercise above. Stay tuned, and see you all tomorrow.