Physiological and Molecular Adaptations to Strength Training

Abstract

High muscle contraction forces that lead to gains in muscle function, size, and strength characterize resistance exercise training. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the adaptations in myofiber size and metabolism that occur by stimuli of hormones and local growth factors, mechanical and metabolic stress of muscle tissue, and myofibrillar disruptions induced by a resistance exercise bout. The chapter will highlight the network of intracellular pathways (including mTOR signaling) that ultimately lead to increases in gene expression and protein synthesis. Accumulation of acute exercise responses by systematic training over time modulate the muscle proteome that can be observed as changes in skeletal muscle phenotype.