Contraction – Tension

(Pronounced kuhn-trak-shuhn)

You must think of muscle contraction as tension not shortening (contracting a muscle can be shortening, lengthening or remaining the same length in sports science). When contraction is used as a normal vocabulary word it does mean shorten but not in sports science or physical education. 

To remember what contraction means remember the following mnemonic:

The building contractors (contraction) explain bridge tension and how it works.