Our body is composed of many different groups of muscles and each person has a unique composition of muscle tissue in their body. Where do you think you fit in?
There are three types of muscle fibres: slow twitch (Type I) and fast twitch (Types IIa and IIb). Slow twitch are characterized by having long contraction rates, being resistant to fatigue, relying on oxygen as their main source of metabolism, and are used primarily in endurance type of activities that don't require a great deal of force.
Fast twitch fibers on the other hand have short but powerful contraction rates, are highly fatigable due to their reliance on anaerobic metabolism that produces lactic acid, and are more suited to activities that are powerful and quick in duration.
Ideally, it is best to train both types of muscles fibres - however, some athletes will train one type more over the other. When's the last time you've seen a bulky soccer player? Or a slim sprinter?
To read more about muscle fibres, check it out here --> http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/anatomyandphysiology/a/MuscleFiberType.htm
QUIZ TIME:
What type of muscle cells (fast twitch or slow-endurance fibre) are involved if you see an athlete with bulkier muscles, in comparison to an athlete with longer and thinner muscles?
No comments:
Post a Comment