legendary study about muscle hypertrophy

[nolotil]

Med Sci Sports. 1975 Fall;7(3):185-98.

Mechanism of work-induced hypertrophy of skeletal muscle.
Goldberg AL, Etlinger JD, Goldspink DF, Jablecki C.


they knew very much already in mid 70s..regarding muscle growth

"Skeletal muscle can undergo rapid growth in response to a sudden increase in work load. For example, the rat soleus muscle increases in weight by 40% within six days after the tendon of the synergistic gastrocnemius is sectioned. Such growth of the overworked muscle involves an enlargement of muscle fibers and occasional longitudinal splitting. Hypertrophy leads to greater maximal tension development, although decreased contraction time and reduced contractility have also been reported. Unlike normal developmental growth, work-induced hypertrophy can be induced in hypophysectomized or diabetic animals. This process thus appears independent of growth hormone and insulin as well as testosterone and thyroid hormones. Hypertrophy of the soleus can also be induced in fasting animals, in which there is a generalized muscle wasting. Thus muscular activity takes precedence over endocrine influences on muscle size. The increase in muscle weight reflects an increase in protein, especially sarcoplasmic protein, and results from greater protein synthesis and reduced protein breakdown. Within several hours after operation, the hypertrophying soleus shows more rapid uptake of certain amino acids and synthesis of phosphatidyl-inositol. By 8 hours, protein synthesis is enhanced. RNA synthesis also increases, and hypertrophy can be prevented with actinomycin D. Nuclear DNA synthesis also increases on the second day after operation and leads to a greater DNA content. The significance of the increased RNA and DNA synthesis is not clear, since most of it occurs in interstitial and satellite cells. The proliferation of the non-muscle cells seems linked to the growth of the muscle fibers; in addition, factors causing muscle atrophy (e.g. denervation) decrease DNA synthesis by such cells. In order to define more precisely the early events in hypertrophy, the effects of contractile activity were studied in rat muscles in vitro. Electrical stimulation enhanced active transport of certain amino acids within an hour, and the magnitude of this effect depended on the amount of contractile activity. Stimulation or passive stretch of the soleus or diaphragm also retarded protein degradation. Presumably these effects of mechanical activity contribute to the changes occuring during hypertrophy in vivo. However, under the same conditions, or even after more prolonged stimulation, no change in rates of protein synthesis was detected. These findings with passive tension in vitro are particularly interesting, since passive stretch has been reported to retard atrophy or to induce hypertrophy of denervated muscle in vivo.
 It is suggested that increased tension development (either passive or active) is the critical event in initiating compensatory growth."

[nolotil]

It is suggested that increased tension development (either passive or active) is the critical event in initiating compensatory growth.

= more tension more growth = increasing weights on the bar is crucial for bodybuilders. specially for naturals.

[lvtolft]

More tension can be done in many more ways than just weight.  Focusing only on the amount of weight won't necessarily result in hypertrophy.

[nolotil]

More tension can be done in many more ways than just weight.  Focusing only on the amount of weight won't necessarily result in hypertrophy.

which isnt what i said either. you can get stronger without growth yes. but a natural wont grow if he gradually isnt getting stronger. also there is a certain volume requirement for growth.

[nycbull]

what do they mean by passive tension?

[Van_Bilderass]

More tension can be done in many more ways than just weight.

Explain how. Take leg extensions for example. Explain how you increase tension without increasing load (weight).

[nolotil]

Explain how.

yes i was thinking about that too  ...one thing i can think of is..the exercise with most weight on the bar doesnt automatically translate to most tension on the muscle..although usually it is the case i would say. but its not something you have to analyse that much as you mostly need to worry about strength increases to drive growth.

i think this is a very good paper as it shows the fundamental driving force for muscle growth.

get stronger in basic exercises+add some isolations exercises+do enough volume+cover nutritional bases (very uncomplicated although alot of people make nutrition for bodybuilding purposes more complicated than they need to be)

[Van_Bilderass]

yes i was thinking about that too  ...one thing i can think of is..the exercise with most weight on the bar doesnt automatically translate to most tension on the muscle..although usually it is the case i would say.

I think one way to create more tension is by doing ballistic reps. Very quick negatives with fast turnaround. I think, however, that lvtolift would say the opposite, to squeeze the reps and do them slower. Just a guess, but he'll have to explain. That's what most say when they say weight isn't that important, but training slower and more controlled reduces tension.

I've posted this paper here before too. Increased tension, and therefore load i.e. weight, is the primary driving force behind hypertrophy.

[nolotil]

I think one way to create more tension is by doing ballistic reps. Very quick negatives with fast turnaround. I think, however, that lvtolift would say the opposite, to squeeze the reps and do them slower. Just a guess, but he'll have to explain. That's what most say when they say weight isn't that important, but training slower and more controlled reduces tension.

I've posted this paper here before too. Increased tension, and therefore load i.e. weight, is the primary driving force behind hypertrophy.

yes ballistic reps and half reps too (so i guess coleman and other bodybuilders they have a point with sloppy parties reps**) , negatives etc. but also increases risk of injury so its a balancing act. but certainly i dont think positive phase should be very slow. explosive positive phase and then controlled negative phase.


and you are right i dont think he was refering to the above things. i think supersets , giant sets and slo squeesing reps etc