Growing Your Muscles
November 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Many people are unaware that the skeletal muscle is considered to be a very reactive tissue that expands in size in response to weight training and atrophies (losing muscle size) in reaction to low loads (extended bed rest).
The following include the effects of muscle growth according to Espen Spangenburg from the department of kinesiology at the University of Maryland:
• Weight training, also referred to as “mechanical loading”, activates the muscle protein synthesis, by turning on the motor signaling pathway.
• Weight training increases the shift of amino acids into muscle cells.
• Weight training stimulates the growth of muscles (IGF1) to accelerate protein synthesis.
• Muscle tissue recognizes weight training with cell membrane sensors, which generates protein synthesis.
So, what is the key ingredient for helping your muscles to grow? The main ingredient is weight training.
Source: Applied Physiology Nutrition Metabolism, 34:328-335, 2009
