Eccentric contractions are characterized by:

• A. When the muscle shortens to overcome a load.
• B. When tension is maintained and the muscle length increases.
• C. When the muscle length remains unchanged while under tension.
• D. When the muscle produces no tension.

Answer: (B)

Eccentric contractions occur when the muscle generates tension while lengthening under load. This happens when you control the downward or lowering phase of a movement, like slowly lowering a weight or decelerating a landing—the muscle stays active to oppose the external force, but its fibers lengthen as the load pulls it downward. That makes the description of maintaining tension while the muscle length increases the best match.

In contrast, a concentric action shortens the muscle as it produces force to lift or accelerate a load. An isometric action involves tension without any change in muscle length. Producing no tension describes a relaxed state, not an active contraction.