Adaptations to Training: Strength

• Adaptation occurs via different stressors stimulating cellular pathways
• Strength important for all, including older adults & endurance athletes
• Many sports & daily tasks need strength for power
• Large differences in strength within & across sex (& age)

  • But female / male & older / younger adults equally trainable (in relative terms)
  • Strong genetic basis: likely several genes, eg for fibre types, signalling
• Strength gains by both muscle & neural factors

  • Hypertrophy is major muscle response (more contractile proteins, not fibres)
  • Hormones, mechanical… stress signalling turns on hypertrophic cascade