Isokinetic Training

As a physical therapist assistant and a certified athletic trainer, I am very familiar with isokinetic equipment. Used extensively in physical therapy clinics and sports-training centers, isokinetic equipment tries to solve the problems of both isotonics and variable resistance by using accommodating resistance at a set velocity. You perform the exercise at a specific velocity, and no matter how much force your muscle produces, the isokinetic machine matches that force. This force matching makes it an excellent rehab device, because it makes the exercise quite safe. If you are rehabilitating an injury and can't produce much force, the machine will only give you what you can take. You can practice different velocities (speeds) to closely mimic the speeds of normal or sports activities. Unfortunately, isokinetic machines are very expensive and require someone who is trained to operate them. They are great for rehab and certain sport-specific training, but you probably won't use them regularly.