Effects of strength training and immobilization on human muscle fibres.

European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology ·Vol. 43 ·No. 1 ·1980-02-00 ·Pages 25-34

MacDougall JD, Elder GC, Sale DG, Moroz JR, Sutton JR

Abstract

Seven healthy male subjects were studied under control conditions and following 5-6 months of heavy resistance training and 5-6 weeks of immobilization in elbow casts. Cross-sectional fibre areas and nuclei-to-fibre ratios were calculated from cryostat sections of needle biopsies taken from triceps brachii. Training resulted in a 98% increase in maximal elbow extension strength as measured by a Cybex dynamometer, while immobilization resulted in a 41% decrease in strength. Both fast twitch (FT) and slow twitch (ST) fibre areas increased significantly with training by 39% and 31%, respectively. Immobilization resulted in significant decreases in fibre area by 33% for FT and 25% for ST fibres. The observed nuclei-to-fibre ratio was 10% greater following the training programme. However, this change was non-significant. There was also a non-significant correlation between the magnitude of the changes in fibre size and the changes in maximal strength following either training or immobilization.

MeSH Terms

Adult Atrophy Cell Nucleus/pathology Humans Immobilization Male Muscles/pathology Physical Education and Training Sports Medicine Weight Lifting

Authors & Affiliations

5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID

MacDougall J D

Elder G C

Sale D G

Moroz J R

Sutton J R

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28 references, click to expand

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Article Info

Journal

European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology

Abbr.

Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol

ISSN

0301-5548

DOI

10.1007/BF00421352

Published

1980-02-00

Pages

25-34

Language

English

Region

Germany

NLM ID

0410266

Subset

External Links

PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00421352

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Effects of strength training and immobilization on human muscle fibres.

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