background preloader

Training the Body

Facebook Twitter

Skeletal muscle hypertrophy. The Mystery of Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy Richard Joshua Hernandez, B.S. and Len Kravitz, Ph.D.

Skeletal muscle hypertrophy

Introduction Through exercise, the muscular work done against a progressively challenging overload leads to increases in muscle mass and cross-sectional area, referred to as hypertrophy. But why does a muscle cell grow and how does it grow? Although an intense topic of research, scientists still do not fully understand the complete (and very complex) picture of how muscle adapts to gradually overloading stimuli. In this article, a brief but relevant review of the literature is presented to better understand the multifaceted phenomenon of skeletal muscle hypertrophy. What is Muscular Hypertrophy? The amount of satellite cells present within in a muscle depends on the type of muscle.

Immunology As described earlier, resistance exercise causes trauma to skeletal muscle. Insulin-Like Growth Factor IGF is a hormone that is secreted by skeletal muscle. Muscle Hypertrophy in Sports Medicine (Definition) This is the Secret to Burning Belly Fat / Fitness. Why Runners Need to Strength Train. For most runners, the time spent on the road is very rarely in pursuit of big guns and a killer six-pack to match.

Why Runners Need to Strength Train

But that doesn’t mean strength training shouldn’t complement all of those miles for other beneficial reasons. Experts say incorporating just 20 minutes of strength training a few times a week can help runners prevent injuries, aid recovery and reach their full athletic potential. 5 Exercise Machines That Aren’t Worth Your Time. Photo: Pond5 Machines tend to get a bad rap on the gym floor — demonized as non-functional, even dangerous, according to some fitness pros.

5 Exercise Machines That Aren’t Worth Your Time

Still, they’re not necessarily just a bunch of dead weight. Exercise machines can be helpful for beginners who want to start building strength but don’t necessarily have the foundation of lifting with free weights. They can also be a great way to tack on some extra volume at the end of a workout, when a lifter may be too tired to maintain proper form with a dumbbell or barbell. But, for all of their benefits, some machines just cause more trouble than they’re worth. 1.

Not only can using these machines look a little bit awkward in the gym, they also pale in effectiveness at developing the intended regions — the inner and outer thigh. Try this instead: To get the most work out of these muscles, consider moving in the frontal plane (a fancy word meaning side-to-side) during your workout. 2. 3. 4. The 5 Most Important Lifts to Master. Photo: Pond5 While nearly any movement can leave lifters lying in a pool of sweat riddled with soreness, some are simply more important than others.

The 5 Most Important Lifts to Master

Bicep curls may be key for building a set of bulging arms, but they do little when it comes time to move that heavy couch. By comparison, total-body exercises like squats and deadlifts come in handy on a daily basis. From the muscles they work to the functions they serve, the following exercises form the foundation for any successful routine. Fitness Defined: Concentric and Eccentric Contractions (and Why It Matters) Usually, the average exerciser doesn't think about physiology or kinesiology when he or she is exercising.

Fitness Defined: Concentric and Eccentric Contractions (and Why It Matters)

Sure, you think about form, doing your exercises correctly, and achieving balance—both in terms of overall fitness (a balance of cardio, strength training and flexibility) and individual workouts (a balance in the body where you exercise all of your major muscle groups). And that's great! Ten Things You MUST Know About Eccentric Training To Get Better Results. 1) You Are Stronger Eccentrically You are stronger during the eccentric phase of any lift—as much as 1.75 times as strong as during the concentric phase!

Ten Things You MUST Know About Eccentric Training To Get Better Results

Think about it: You can lower more weight in the bench press or deadlift than you can raise. Remember, the eccentric phase of a lift occurs when the muscle lengthens. This is the down motion of the bench press, biceps curl, or squat. The concentric phase of the lift occurs when the muscle shortens, as in the up motion of the bench press, biceps curl, or squat. Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity. Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity You know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good?

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life. By Mayo Clinic Staff Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. No. 1: Exercise controls weight Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. No. 2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases Worried about heart disease? Body Weight Training ArenaBody Weight Training Arena.

If you’re looking for a bodyweight training program to build maximum strength, following The Naked Warrior program will produce results.

Body Weight Training ArenaBody Weight Training Arena

But keep in mind, it’s a strength building program, not a get-ripped or aerobic conditioning program. If you’re willing to go the distance and pay the price of focusing on only two essential exercises, you may well be on your way to rivaling the strength of Roman Greco wrestlers, kung fu masters, and even muscled military soldiers. Welcome to Convict Conditioning.