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Different Muscle Fibers in Humans

Discussion in 'Training' started by Zillagreybeard, Jan 06, 2022.

Our muscles contain bundles of fibers called “fascicles”, that contain a variety of different fiber types that fire “in order”, depending on many factors, such as the speed of contraction, the amount of effort we need to exert and the level of muscular fatigue we’ve reached.

Following Hennemann’s size principle, of course these fibers fire from smallest (Type I) to largest (Type II) although if we really want to be pedantic, Type IIX fibers are not as large as Type IIA despite firing last.

Anyway, these fibers have specific metabolic and contractile characteristics, with physical differences, that depending on our goals can give us an idea of the type of training we want to perform based on the adaptations that we want to achieve.

In fact (although specific mechanisms are yet to be established) we know that some level of “fiber shifting” tends to occur, which can facilitate/boost performance and help us get better at whatever it is that we do!

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