2.2 – Muscle Mechanics

Category: 2.2 – Muscle Mechanics

Adaptation stages for a powerful physique

Posted Feb.15, 2009 under 2.2 - Muscle Mechanics

Setting a long-term bodybuilding goal is a serious commitment toward athletic advancement – a pledge to put up with aches, pains and adversity. Stages of physical and mental development must be conquered before any significant results can be seen – nobody but Bruce Banner blows up overnight! Four major adaptive responses are mandatory for a more muscular body: first, develop the motivation for routine exercise; second, strengthen connective tissue, cartilage and bone; third, increase mind-muscle coordination to effectively execute movements; lastly, encourage enhanced mental toughness for increasingly intense workouts. Read More »

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Tags: anaerobic, bodybuilding program, connective tissue, muscle bone, neuromuscular, physical training

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What is muscle maturity?

Posted Sep.28, 2008 under 2.2 - Muscle Mechanics

“Muscle maturity” is often mentioned when comparing bodybuilders competing on stage. Typically, the term is used to explain why a young bodybuilder has a harder time reaching the hard and grainy look of someone older, or otherwise much more experienced. Preaching the possibility of gaining muscle maturity is often an effort to reassure a new bodybuilder of future potential. However, actually defining muscle maturity is quite debatable – exactly what it is depends on whom you ask. Read More »

(8 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Tags: anaerobic, connective tissue, motor control, muscle conditioning, muscle maturity, muscle memory, neuromuscular, physical training

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Muscle-bone connection in bodybuilding

Posted Aug.05, 2008 under 2.2 - Muscle Mechanics

Building a stronger, more muscular body requires synergy between many systems. Strength athletes appreciate the need to promote a strong mind-muscle connection, since a mature neuromuscular system allows enhanced motor control for intense contractions. The muscle-bone connection is less understood but equally important. Without a strong musculoskeletal system, pulling or pushing 10 pounds would be impossible – not to mention a couple hundred!

Professional arm wrestlers provide a magnificent glance into musculoskeletal demands of intense physical activities. These athletes are highly dependent on strong bones, tendons, ligaments and cartilage – to withstand the build up of internal pressure during a competition. With the roar of a cheering crowd and the lure of cash rewards, many arm wresters’ generate enough pressure to snap bones. Open fractures are not uncommon. Technique and arm strength play major rolls in winning, but frail bones can abruptly terminate a gridlock. In bodybuilding, flimsy bones can lead to premature failure during heavy exercises – perhaps severe injury. Read More »

(6 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)

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Tags: connective tissue, muscle bone, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, nutrition, physical training

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Training muscle memory and motor skills

Posted Jul.16, 2007 under 2.2 - Muscle Mechanics

Muscle memory is a phrase commonly referenced by strength trainees and coaches; however, most use the term incorrectly or fail to totally grasp the relationship to general motor skill ability. The majority of strength athletes simply believe muscle memory refers to an ability to regain muscle, strength lost from an extended period of detraining. More accurately, muscle memory is not the cause of regaining strength but the effect strength training has on the nervous system’s ability to properly activate a muscle intended to perform a specific movement.

Motor memory refers to recalling specific motor skills. Proper motor skills are required for the muscles, brain, skeleton, joints and nervous system to work together efficiently toward accomplishing a task. Muscle memory is properly defined as the body’s collective ability to memorize and perform well rehearsed muscular contractions. Read More »

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Tags: anaerobic, connective tissue, ergogenics, motor control, muscle conditioning, muscle maturity, muscle memory, neuromuscular, physical training

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Exercise science: EMG results

Posted Jun.22, 2007 under 2.2 - Muscle Mechanics

Bodybuilders should take advantage of what science provides to create an optimal training program. Through research and personal experience, an ultimate program is created. The creation of new movements compels athletes to question the validity and effectiveness of previous routines. Bodybuilders and powerlifters want to know what exercises will produce the quickest, most effective and safest results. The real answer is: there is no best exercise or training technique, since each has an appropriate time and place in an athlete’s program.

Exercise selection inevitably depends on the phase of training along with the anatomical and physiological properties of the exercise. The first step toward proper exercise selection is the classification of all exercises according to their specific physiological response. Read More »

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Tags: anaerobic, emg, ergogenics, motor control, muscle conditioning, muscle memory, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, physical training

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Understand muscle contractions

Posted Jun.13, 2007 under 2.2 - Muscle Mechanics

New trainees frequently enter a resistance training routine understanding one basic principle: push or pull a load for a predetermined amount of repetitions. However, there is a lot more to understand about each repetition and how it affects muscular failure and subsequent growth.

Muscle contractions are often confused with muscle shortening due to the nature of the word “contract.” Muscular contractions are involved whenever the muscle produces tension – its sole purpose. Skeletal muscle can raise, lower or resist a load; classified as concentric, eccentric or isometric, respectfully. The type of muscle contraction is determined by the motion of the associated joints and how the muscle transforms in response to the load. Read More »

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Tags: anaerobic, motor control, muscle conditioning, muscle memory, neuromuscular, physical training

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Machines build cars – not bodies

Posted Apr.27, 2007 under 2.2 - Muscle Mechanics

I don’t want to offend the hardcore believers in cable crossovers leading to maximum chest fullness; dimensions normally only dreamed about. Nor do I want to disturb the macho man madness that happens when some trainees hop on a Smith rack to pump out a few “heavy” bench presses. But let’s get real here: machines may build cars in Detroit, but they don’t build great bodies in the gym. Read More »

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Tags: anaerobic, free weights, machines, physical training, training theory

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