Chronic adaptations to resistance training - Neuromuscular

What causes an increased cross-sectional area of muscle after resistance training, and how does it affect performance

• Each fibre increases in cross-sectional area due to more actin and myosin filaments, more and larger myofibrils, and more connective tissue. This increases muscle strength and size

What is increased synchronisation of motor units as a chronic adaptation to resistance training

• Different-sized motor units learn to fire at the same time, and larger motor units can be recruited earlier, producing more powerful contractions and greater force application

What is an increase in the firing rate (rate coding) of motor units as a chronic adaptation to resistance training

• It is the increased frequency at which a motor unit is stimulated, allowing faster force development without necessarily increasing peak force

How does increased rate coding improve performance

• It allows muscles to contract maximally more quickly, which is beneficial for rapid, ballistic movements requiring high force in a short time

What is the role of inhibitory mechanisms in muscles

• They prevent muscles from exerting more force than they can safely tolerate, protecting against injury

How does resistance training affect inhibitory signals

• It reduces inhibitory signals, allowing the muscles to produce greater force safely

What is the performance outcome of reduced inhibitory signals

• Greater force production within a muscle group

How do synchronisation and rate coding differ as neural adaptations

• Synchronisation refers to motor units firing together, while rate coding refers to the frequency of firing of individual motor units

Which adaptation mainly increases the speed of force development rather than peak force

• Higher rate coding of motor units

How does muscle size and structure change as a neuromuscular adaptation to resistance training

• Muscle size and structure increase, resulting in stronger and larger muscles

How does the synchronisation of motor units change with resistance training

• Synchronisation increases, allowing different motor units to fire together for more powerful contractions

How does the firing rate of motor units change as a chronic adaptation

• The firing rate increases, improving the speed of force development

How do inhibitory signals change with resistance training

• Inhibitory signals decrease, allowing muscles to produce greater force safely

How does an increase in the cross-sectional area of a muscle (muscle hypertrophy) from resistance training affect performance

• More actin and myosin filaments, larger and more numerous myofibrils, and increased connective tissue allow greater strength and power with each contraction

How does increased synchronisation of motor units improve performance

• Different motor units can fire together, and larger motor units can be recruited sooner, producing more powerful muscular contractions

How does an increase in the firing rate (rate coding) of motor units affect performance

• Higher stimulation frequency of motor units increases the rate of force development, allowing rapid maximal contractions useful for ballistic movements

How does a reduction in inhibitory signals improve muscular performance

• Better coordination of agonist, antagonist, and synergist muscles reduces inhibitory effects, allowing greater force production within the muscle group