Abstract
Strength training, also known as weight or resistance training (RT), has become one of the most popular forms of exercise, not only for sport performance but also for improving health-related fitness. A wide variety of physiological adaptations achieved through RT have been documented in the short, medium, and long term. These improvements include changes in body composition, muscle hypertrophy, strength, power and motor performance; as well as other health benefits such as changes in blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, endocrine system, and better performance in daily life activities, among others. This chapter will cover the basic physiological adaptations of RT discussing neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, and endocrine responses and adaptations according to current scientific literature. These physiological concepts will be applied in following chapters in which specific methods and technologies for RT are presented.
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Ponce-González, J.G., Casals, C. (2022). Muscle Strength Determinants and Physiological Adaptations. In: Muñoz-López, A., Taiar, R., Sañudo, B. (eds) Resistance Training Methods. Lecture Notes in Bioengineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81989-7_2
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