Muscle hypertrophy is a positive response to training, with fast-twitch; fibres being slightly more responsive than slow-twitch fibres.
Muscle hypertrophy is a term that refers to muscle growth together with an increase in the size of muscle cells. While length remains unchanged, the size of the muscle becomes larger as a result of an increase in its mass and cross-sectional area. Hypertrophy is induced by training programs that stimulate activity in muscle fi bres causing them to grow. Without stimulation, muscle fibres can reduce in size, a condition known as muscular atrophy.
Muscle hypertrophy refers to muscle growth together with an increase in the size of muscle cells. This occurs as a result of strength or resistance training that stimulates activity in muscle fibres causing them to grow. Hypertrophy does not occur as a result of aerobic training.
Muscle fibres enlarge after training. Reasons for this increase in size include the higher proportion of myofibrils (the contractile element of the muscles). The fibres also enlarge as a result of increased stores of glycogen and the energy-supplying compounds (ATP and phosphocreatine - PC) needed for the increased muscle size.
Training causes structural changes in muscle fibres, leading to hypertrophy. The growth and cross-sectional size increase of muscle is a direct result of mass increases in:
• actin and myosin filament — thin protein filaments that produce muscle action
• myofibrils — the contractile elements of skeletal muscle
• connective tissue — tissue that surrounds and supports muscle.
Training needs to address the overload principle to encourage muscle hypertrophy. The principle of specificity is also important in targeting muscles or regions of the body where hypertrophy is required. The extent of hypertrophy depends on:
• muscle type (fast-twitch or slow-twitch; see below). White muscle fibres are genetically larger in their cross-sectional area when compared to red fibres.
Resistance training can cause white muscle fibres to increase their area from around 55 per cent of skeletal muscle to 70 per cent or more. It should be noted that training cannot change the type of fibre (red to white or vice versa), only the cross-sectional area.
• type of stimulus. As hypertrophy is enhanced through progressive overload, resistance training using low repetitions with high resistance yields the best results.
• regularity of training. Regular training promotes hypertrophy while irregular
or absence of training may result in muscular atrophy.
• availability of body hormones. Hypertrophy is more easily achieved in males
due to a higher concentration of testosterone.
Muscle hypertrophy is a term that refers to muscle growth together with an increase in the size of muscle cells. While length remains unchanged, the size of the muscle becomes larger as a result of an increase in its mass and cross-sectional area. Hypertrophy is induced by training programs that stimulate activity in muscle fi bres causing them to grow. Without stimulation, muscle fibres can reduce in size, a condition known as muscular atrophy.
Muscle hypertrophy refers to muscle growth together with an increase in the size of muscle cells. This occurs as a result of strength or resistance training that stimulates activity in muscle fibres causing them to grow. Hypertrophy does not occur as a result of aerobic training.
Muscle fibres enlarge after training. Reasons for this increase in size include the higher proportion of myofibrils (the contractile element of the muscles). The fibres also enlarge as a result of increased stores of glycogen and the energy-supplying compounds (ATP and phosphocreatine - PC) needed for the increased muscle size.
Training causes structural changes in muscle fibres, leading to hypertrophy. The growth and cross-sectional size increase of muscle is a direct result of mass increases in:
• actin and myosin filament — thin protein filaments that produce muscle action
• myofibrils — the contractile elements of skeletal muscle
• connective tissue — tissue that surrounds and supports muscle.
Training needs to address the overload principle to encourage muscle hypertrophy. The principle of specificity is also important in targeting muscles or regions of the body where hypertrophy is required. The extent of hypertrophy depends on:
• muscle type (fast-twitch or slow-twitch; see below). White muscle fibres are genetically larger in their cross-sectional area when compared to red fibres.
Resistance training can cause white muscle fibres to increase their area from around 55 per cent of skeletal muscle to 70 per cent or more. It should be noted that training cannot change the type of fibre (red to white or vice versa), only the cross-sectional area.
• type of stimulus. As hypertrophy is enhanced through progressive overload, resistance training using low repetitions with high resistance yields the best results.
• regularity of training. Regular training promotes hypertrophy while irregular
or absence of training may result in muscular atrophy.
• availability of body hormones. Hypertrophy is more easily achieved in males
due to a higher concentration of testosterone.