What kind of muscle action is involved in pre-stretching?

Pre-stretching primarily involves an eccentric muscle action. During an eccentric contraction, the muscle lengthens while producing force, which is the action of controlling the descent of an object or resisting a stretch. This is particularly relevant in activities like plyometrics or during the preparation phase of explosive movements, where the muscle must first stretch and then contract forcefully.

The eccentric phase of a movement plays a crucial role in energy storage and enhancing performance. It allows the muscle to absorb energy and then utilize that energy rapidly in the subsequent concentric contraction, which is when the muscle shortens to create force.

In contrast, concentric actions involve muscles shortening while developing tension. Isometric actions maintain muscle length under tension without changing the angle of the joint, and isokinetic actions occur at a constant speed through a full range of motion, typically requiring specialized equipment. These do not align with the mechanics of pre-stretching as effectively as eccentric actions do, which highlight the importance of stretch before forceful contraction.