Re: Energy used in a horizontal hold - timed weightlifting

In sci.physics Dave <dwickford@yahoo.com> wrote:

Here's a very simple question:
How do you calculate the energy used by a sportsperson with a timed
horizonal hold? You hold out a 10kg kettlebell (women) or a 18kg
kettlebell (men) horizontally in front of you for as long as possible,
and the person who hold it out longest wins.
 
Obviously the longer you hold, the harder it gets until it's torture
from lactic acid build up, and you give up.
 
The physics I've been taught has no anwser, since energy is newton
meters. I'm politely suggesting that the energy unit needs a
rework to include time, and per relativity spacetime.
 
Said spectacle isn't in competition so much, too many awkward
questions? Answer from bad or stupid teachers is:
"You're not making any sense. Energy is force times distance".
 
Some videos talk about specific impulse, which is force times
time, but this isn't worked into anything else.
 
To make the competition even between long arm and short arm people,
it may be fairer to hold it out for a set distance, not with
locked elbows.

You are conflating physics and physiology.

Replace the biological entity with a wooden cross and you have the
answer from physics, i.e. zero energy is used.

To get an answer from physiology you need to understand how muscles
work.