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Twitch contractile adaptations are not dependent on the intensity of isometric exercise in the human triceps surae

European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology volume 60, pages 346–352 (1990)Cite this article

Summary

Ultrastructural and twitch contractile characteristics of the human triceps surae were determined in six healthy but very sedentary subjects before and after 16 weeks of isometric training at 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Following training, twitch contraction time was approximately 16% shorter, although no differences were observed in one-half relaxation time or peak twitch torque. Percent fibre type was not changed by training. The mean area of type I and type II fibres in the soleus increased by approximately 30% but only type II fibres showed an increase in area in the lateral gastrocnemius (30%). Despite such changes in fibre area the volume density of the sarcoplasmic reticulum-transverse tubular network averaged 3.2 ± 0.6% and 5.9 ± 0.9% in type I and type II fibres respectively, before and after training in the two heads of the gastrocnemius. The results indicate that contractile adaptations to isometric training at 30% MVC were limited to twitch contraction time and were not directly related to changes in percent fibre distribution or the volume of sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubules in either type I or type II fibres. The data further demonstrate that substantial fibre hypertrophy is achieved by training with low-intensity contractions.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, The Ohio State University, 43210-1284, Columbus, OH, USA

    Stephen E. Alway

  2. Departments of Medicine and Physical Education, McMaster University, L8N 3Z5, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Digby G. Sale & J. Duncan MacDougall

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  1. Stephen E. Alway
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  2. Digby G. Sale
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  3. J. Duncan MacDougall
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Alway, S.E., Sale, D.G. & MacDougall, J.D. Twitch contractile adaptations are not dependent on the intensity of isometric exercise in the human triceps surae. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 60, 346–352 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00713497

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00713497

Key words

  • Skeletal muscle
  • Isometric training
  • Contactile properties
  • Sarcoplasmic reticulum