What type of muscle fibers make up the core musculature and what type of contractions best suit these muscles?
a. slow twitch, type II muscle fibers; quick short-term contractions
b. slow twitch, type I muscle fibers; longer sustained contractions
c. fast twitch, type I muscle fibers; quick short-term contractions
d. fast twitch, type II muscle fibers; longer sustained contractions
Answer: b. slow twitch, type I muscle fibers; longer sustained contractions
Slow twitch, type I muscle fibers make up the core musculature and longer sustained contractions best suit these muscles. Exercises that fit this description, such as the prone iso-ab, (more commonly known as the plank), maintain longer contractions, and are more beneficial to the core musculature.