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Skeletal muscle fibre size adaptation to an eight-week swimming programme

European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology volume 44, pages 161–165 (1980)Cite this article

Summary

To evaluate the effects of short-term physical training on muscle fibre size, seven males were submitted to an eight-week swimming programme. Biopsy samples from the triceps brachii muscle were obtained before and after the training period, and compared with controls. After training, free swimming maximal oxygen uptake was significantly higher in the exercised subjects (3.61 to 3.76 l·min−1), whereas the type I fibre distribution in the triceps was not affected (45.5 vs 44.6%). However, a significant increase in type II fibre area was observed (23.8%) and the type II/type I fibre area ratio increased from 1.63 to 1.83 with training. Muscle succinate dehydrogenase and phosphofructokinase activities were not significantly affected by the training programme. No significant changes were observed in the control group. It is concluded that type II fibres are recruited preferentially during a short-term swim-training programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Départment d'éducation physique, Université de Montréal, 2100, boul. Edouard-Montpetit, H3C 3J7, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    J. -M. Lavoie, A. W. Taylor & R. R. Montpetit

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  1. J. -M. Lavoie
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  2. A. W. Taylor
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  3. R. R. Montpetit
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This study was supported by grant from H.C.S.R., Gouvernement du Québec

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Lavoie, J.M., Taylor, A.W. & Montpetit, R.R. Skeletal muscle fibre size adaptation to an eight-week swimming programme. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 44, 161–165 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421094

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421094

Key words

  • Swimming training
  • Triceps brachii muscle
  • Muscle fibre size
  • Fibre types