Chapter 15 - Anaerobic training (Muscular adaptations) Flashcards
How does Increased fibre size / fast twitch (cross sectional area / hypertrophy) lead to improved performance?
This is a result of one or more of the following:
* Increased number and size of the myofibrils
* Increased contractile proteins (myosin and actin) (see below)
* Increased size and strength of connective tissues (tendons and ligaments)- thus increasing the amount of force the muscle can produce.
Muscle strength is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the muscle. This also leads to an increase in storing capacity such as, ATP, PC and glycogen (see below)
How does Increased contractile proteins in muscles lead to improved performance?
Strength training (anaerobic) tends to add to the portion of the muscle that generates tension = the contractile proteins. This increases the contractile capacity of the muscle, as well as the overall size of the muscle fibre, this is directly related to the strength of the muscle.
how does increased energy substrate levels (ATP and PC) lead to improved performance?
The substrates ATP, creatine phosphate (CP) and glycogen represent the most readily available fuel source of muscular energy.
Increasing fuel stores allow for improved performance in activities and events that require high power output, such as sprinting or throwing events.
By having more fuel available for immediate energy supply, they are able to provide rapid energy (faster rate) for high intensity activities for longer.
This increasing the capacity of the ATP- PC system, whilst reducing reliance on the anaerobic & aerobic glycolysis (decreasing the accumulation of fatiguing metabolic by products such as lactic acid). The rate of ATP production in both of these systems is slower than the ATP–PC system, which also reduces the rate of energy production, thus decreasing intensity (speed) and performance
How does increase glycolytic enzymes lead to improved performance?
Increases the rate / turnover of ATP from glycogen. This allows for a more rapid release /rate of energy from the Anaerobic systems, thus the athlete can work at a higher intensity, improving performance.
How does Increased glycolytic capacity lead to improved performance?
Glycolytic capacity is also increased with anaerobic training. Due in part to the increase in glycolytic enzymes, and also to the increases in glycogen stores, the rate at which glycogen can be broken down into ATP is increased.
The amount of ATP that can be derived from the anaerobic glycolysis system is therefore increased. This leads directly to an increase in performance in activities that depend on the anaerobic glycolysis system for energy, such as a 400-metre race, thus the athlete can work at a higher intensity for longer, improving performance.
how does Increased myosin ATPase lead to improved performance?
This is an enzyme that splits ATP to yield energy for muscular contractions. Having greater amounts of ATPase allows more energy to be released at a faster rate, consequently more faster contractions can occur, thus the athlete can work at a higher intensity, improving performance.
How does Increased muscle buffering capacity / Increase tolerance to metabolic by – products lead to improved performanace?
Allow the athletes to continue to work at high intensity for longer in the face of fatigue. Athletes participating in vigorous anaerobic training are able to tolerate significantly high levels of muscle and blood lactate, which improves lactate tolerance.
how does Increased motor unit recruitment (Neural adaptation) lead to improved performance?
The greater the number of motor units that can be recruited, the greater the force that can be developed in the muscle.
Maximal force requires the recruitment of as many motor units as possible. As well as recruiting more motor units, there is an increase in the ability to recruit high-threshold motor units. Muscle fibres are recruited according to size. Larger, stronger motor units are recruited last; these are typically fast-twitch fibres.
With resistance training, there is an increase in the recruitment of fast-twitch fibres and in the time for which the contraction can be maintained. These adaptations result in increased force production, rate of force development (power) and length of time for which the contraction can be maintained.
Resistance training increases the firing rate of a motor unit. This leads to an increase in the strength and duration of a muscular contraction.
How does the Increase rate of motor unit activation
(Neural adaptation) lead to improved performance?
This will increase the speed of contraction, thus will increase the rate of force the muscle can develop
How does an Increase recruitment of fast twitch fibres
(Neural adaptation) lead to improved performance?
This will increase the rate of force production and increase the time for which maximum force can be maintained.
How does an inrease motor unit coordination
(Neural adaptation) lead to improved performance?
This will increase the force the muscle can produce and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of force production.
