The author deals from the physiologists aspect with the problem of excentric contraction. She reminds, that although many scientific publications are devoted to concentric and isometric contrac- tions, excentric contractions are still on the border of interest of physiologists and biomechanists. The author summarizes the findings of sporadic studies and interprets the record of EMG studies. In the conclusion she outlines practical outcomes of the understanding of the mechanism of excentric contraction.

        Key words: excentric contraction, concentric contraction, isometric contraction, postural muscles, proprioceptive afferentation, motor units