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Morphological and Neurological Contributions to Increased Strength

Sports Medicine volume 37, pages 145–168 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

High-resistance strength training (HRST) is one of the most widely practiced forms of physical activity, which is used to enhance athletic performance, augment musculo-skeletal health and alter body aesthetics. Chronic exposure to this type of activity produces marked increases in muscular strength, which are attributed to a range of neurological and morphological adaptations. This review assesses the evidence for these adaptations, their interplay and contribution to enhanced strength and the methodologies employed.

The primary morphological adaptations involve an increase in the cross-sectional area of the whole muscle and individual muscle fibres, which is due to an increase in myofibrillar size and number. Satellite cells are activated in the very early stages of training; their proliferation and later fusion with existing fibres appears to be intimately involved in the hypertrophy response. Other possible morphological adaptations include hyperplasia, changes in fibre type, muscle architecture, myofilament density and the structure of connective tissue and tendons.

Indirect evidence for neurological adaptations, which encompasses learning and coordination, comes from the specificity of the training adaptation, transfer of unilateral training to the contralateral limb and imagined contractions. The apparent rise in whole-muscle specific tension has been primarily used as evidence for neurological adaptations; however, morphological factors (e.g. preferential hypertrophy of type 2 fibres, increased angle of fibre pennation, increase in radiological density) are also likely to contribute to this phenomenon. Changes in inter-muscular coordination appear critical. Adaptations in agonist muscle activation, as assessed by electromyography, tetanic stimulation and the twitch interpolation technique, suggest small, but significant increases. Enhanced firing frequency and spinal reflexes most likely explain this improvement, although there is contrary evidence suggesting no change in cortical or corticospinal excitability.

The gains in strength with HRST are undoubtedly due to a wide combination of neurological and morphological factors. Whilst the neurological factors may make their greatest contribution during the early stages of a training programme, hypertrophic processes also commence at the onset of training.

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  1. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK

    Jonathan P. Folland

  2. Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

    Alun G. Williams

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Folland, J.P., Williams, A.G. Morphological and Neurological Contributions to Increased Strength. Sports Med 37, 145–168 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200737020-00004

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Keywords

  • Resistance Training
  • Satellite Cell
  • Strength Training
  • Pennation Angle
  • Corticospinal Excitability