This is a follow up to one of my recent posts titled Purely Genetic or Hard Work & Dedication.
In that post, I noted that certain physical characteristics such as muscle fiber composition (type I and type II muscle fibers) is predetermined or genetic. I made that statement to inform you that you cannot convert all your slow twitch muscle fibers into fast twitch muscle fibers and start winning gold medals. However, there is actually more to the story. Type I and type II muscle fibers have different capabilities (type I fibers has a greater aerobic capacity and able to produce less force at slower velocities, while type II fibers have a great anaerobic capacity and are able to produce more force at faster velocities). Now the theory that many of us have heard is that you are predetermined with the number type II fibers at birth (the fibers all athletes want so they can be fast and explosive during sport). However, there are hybrid fiber types that have the capacity to change based on the stimulus provided to your muscle. A well-designed training program (weight, speed, agility, and power training) actually has the ability to change muscle fiber composition in hybrid fibers! Training can actually alter the ratio and percentage of type II to type I fibers that leads to increased strength and power-generating capacity. This really strengthens the argument that great athletes become “great” because of hard work, dedication, and a well-structured training program throughout their entire life.
Every athlete has the capacity to improve based on the stimuli provided to the body.
Source:
Bompa, Tudor and Haff, Gregory. Periodization – Theory and Methodology of Training. Illinois: Human Kinetics, 2009
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