what does a muscle do when it contracts
Muscle contraction Muscle contractions can be described based on two variables: length and tension.[1] A muscle contraction is described as isometric if the muscle tension changes but the muscle length remains the same.[1][3][4][5] In contrast, a muscle contraction is isotonic if muscle length changes but the muscle tension remains the same.[1][3][4][5] If the muscle length shortens, the contraction is concentric;[1][6] if the muscle length lengthens, the contraction is eccentric. In natural movements that underlie locomotor activity, muscle contractions are multifaceted as they are able to produce changes in length and tension in a time-varying manner.[7] Therefore, neither length nor tension is likely to remain the same in muscles that contract during locomotor activity.