Pre‑Workout Carbs Boost Performance More Than Post‑Workout
Pre-workout carbohydrate consumption makes much more sense from a physiological point of view than post-workout carbohydrate consumption. Read more in the weekly free Patreon article. https://t.co/oBwerH28Pb
Postural Slow‑twitch Muscles Atrophy Faster when Immobilized
Slow twitch muscles (like the calves) atrophy more during immobilization. This might be explained by their postural role, since they tend to contain more hypertrophied fibers due to the activities of daily life, leading to greater atrophy during disuse. https://t.co/lDSyXbYdC3
Muscle Damage Drives Overreaching, Not Coupling Failure
Overreaching is necessarily the result of accumulated post-workout fatigue. But which post-workout fatigue mechanisms accumulate? This study suggests it is mainly muscle damage rather than excitation-contraction coupling failure. https://t.co/gdpFbh7lVG
Static Stretching Boosts Whole-Body Flexibility via Tolerance
Static stretching training programs do not just increase the flexibility of the stretched limb. They also increase the flexibility of unstretched limbs. This is because the flexibilty increase is underpinned by increased stretch tolerance, which is a global phenomenon. https://t.co/lOd295skvG
Hip Flexor Power Drives Sprint Performance
Sprint running is heavily dependent upon the power output that can be generated by the hip flexors and extensors. Read more in the weekly free Patreon article. https://t.co/sbu6sERoiD
Fiber Size, Not Type, Drives Unloading Atrophy Rates
Whether fiber type affects atrophy rates when all fibers in a muscle are unloaded is contentious. Yet, we can explain even the most confusing results if we make the assumption that fiber size determines atrophy rates and that fiber type...
Carb Mouth Rinse Boosts Heavy‑Lift Performance, Shows CNS Fatigue
Carbohydrate mouth rinsing increases work done during a strength training workout involving a small number of reps with a heavy load, showing that exercise need not be long-duration in order for supraspinal CNS fatigue to occur. https://t.co/Q11E9Ep6bb
Cold Exposure Boosts Pain Tolerance and Flexibility
Cold application is used in research to create a temporary increase in pain tolerance. Interestingly, applying cold water to an upper body limb causes an immediate increase in lower body flexibility. This shows how stretch tolerance is close in nature...
Muscle Damage Drives Overreaching From Cumulative Fatigue
Overreaching is the result of accumulating post-workout fatigue. It is possible that muscle damage may accumulate to a greater extent than the other post-workout fatigue mechanisms. Read more in the weekly free Patreon article. https://t.co/BddbpAg3lx
Larger Muscle Fibers Waste Away Faster than Smaller Ones
In animal models, the largest fibers in a muscle atrophy faster and to a greater extent than the smallest fibers. Also, the rate of atrophy is fastest initially (when fibers are larger) and slower later (when fibers are smaller). Fiber...
Carb Mouth Rinse Boosts Reps, Reveals CNS Fatigue
Carbohydrate mouth rinsing increases the number of reps to failure across multiple sets of multiple exercises, revealing that supraspinal CNS fatigue is a common effect in strength training workouts. https://t.co/Nj0JxgJIRs
Static Stretching Boosts Whole-Body Flexibility via Tolerance
Static stretching doesn't just temporarily increase the flexibility of the stretched muscle. It also increases the flexibility of other, unstretched muscles. This is because the mechanism by which flexibility increases is an increase in stretch tolerance, which is a global...
Fascicle Lengths Drop Faster than CSA, yet Need Less Maintenance
Muscle fascicle lengths seem to dissipate more quickly than muscle CSA during detraining, but require less stimulus for maintenance. Learn more in this week's free Patreon article. https://t.co/OaAsXRoqu9
Speed Persists—Or Grows—During Detraining, Strength Declines
Building on data in untrained subjects, this study in trained athletes found that speed is not lost during detraining and may even increase. In this way, it contrasts with strength, which is lost. https://t.co/4fiSlHL1UJ
Straight Leg Gives Adductor Magnus, Gracilis Max Moment Arms
With a straight leg, the adductor magnus and gracilis have the longest hip adduction moment arms throughout the normal joint angle range of motion. https://t.co/chzFj9GrBw