Isometric exercises have been around for thousands of years. It is defined as an exercising without changing the angle or length of your muscles and this is done without movement. It is done by putting your extremity up against a wall and pushing.

The Chinese probably began what we call isometrics by incorporating strengthen actions into their yoga and martial arts training. The father of isometrics is listed as Alexander Zass, a Russian strongman. He claimed his ability to break chains and do other strength defying feats were all a result of his isometric exercises.

German researchers in the 1950’s released studies that showed the benefits of isometric exercise. The United States jumped on the band wagon at around that time with advertisements showing a 97 pound weakling turned into a muscle man by buying a product that taught isometrics. The product was sold by a company names Dynamic Tension, started by Charles Atlas. The company is still going strong today.

The isometric name suffered some bad press when the age of body builders who took steroids tried blaming their girth on isometric exercises. This cause people to back away from them. When the fallacy was uncovered, isometrics again came to the forefront as a very popular exercise. It remains so today.

It is a non-evasive type of exercise and can be done by young or old alike. It is also useful to people in wheelchairs, as they can put pressure on their arms and legs merely by pushing against a wall, dresser or cabinet. Give isometrics a try, you will surely get some benefit from it.