Abstract
Resistance training (RT)-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy is a highly intricate process. Despite substantial advances, we are far from understanding exactly how muscle hypertrophy develops during RT. The aim of the present review is to discuss new insights related to the role of skeletal muscle damage and muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in mediating RT-induced hypertrophy. Specifically, the thesis that in the early phase of RT (≤ 4 previous RT sessions) increases in muscle cross-sectional area are mostly attributable to muscle damage-induced muscle swelling; then (after ~ 10 sessions), a modest magnitude of muscle hypertrophy ensues; but only during a latter phase of RT (after ~ 18 sessions) is true muscle hypertrophy observed. We argue that the initial increases in MPS post-RT are likely directed to muscle repair and remodelling due to damage, and do not correlate with eventual muscle hypertrophy induced by several RT weeks. Increases in MPS post-RT session only contribute to muscle hypertrophy after a progressive attenuation of muscle damage, and even more significantly when damage is minimal. Furthermore, RT protocols that do not promote significant muscle damage still induce similar muscle hypertrophy and strength gains compared to conditions that do promote initial muscle damage. Thus, we conclude that muscle damage is not the process that mediates or potentiates RT-induced muscle hypertrophy.
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Abbreviations
- AMPK:
-
5′ Adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase
- CSA:
-
Cross-sectional area
- CK:
-
Creatine kinase
- DOMS:
-
Delayed onset muscle soreness
- DXA:
-
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
- fCSA:
-
Muscle fibre cross-sectional area
- IL-1β:
-
Interleukin 1 beta
- IL-6:
-
Interleukin 6
- Mb:
-
Myoglobin
- MPB:
-
Muscle protein breakdown
- MPS:
-
Muscle protein synthesis
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- mTOR:
-
Mechanistic target of rapamycin
- MVIC:
-
Maximum voluntary isometric contraction
- MyoPS:
-
Myofibrillar protein synthesis
- PGC-1α:
-
Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha
- RE:
-
Resistance exercise
- RT:
-
Resistance training
- SC:
-
Satellite cells
- TNF-α:
-
Tumour necrosis factor alpha
- US:
-
Ultrasound
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We would like to acknowledge the participants of our studies and funding agencies: the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP; Grants #2012/24499-1, 2013/21218-4, 2014/19594-0, 2016/24259-1 and 2017/04299-1), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; Grants #303085/2015-0 and 448387/2014-0), and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).
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Damas, F., Libardi, C.A. & Ugrinowitsch, C. The development of skeletal muscle hypertrophy through resistance training: the role of muscle damage and muscle protein synthesis. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 485–500 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3792-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3792-9