New research into muscle fibre from SFU’s Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology could eventually help cyclists and other athletes maximize their performance, and inform new treatments for stroke victims and others suffering from motor impairment diseases.
The researchers have discovered that muscles appear to know which fibres to recruit depending on demands of the task.
The universal theory governing muscle recruitment is known as the “size principle.” It describes how motor units—the building blocks of muscles—are recruited in a simple and elegant way to make a muscle contract and move the body.
Researcher Adrian Lai from the Neuromuscular Mechanics Lab at SFU explains, “Size principle found that smaller motor units consisting of slower, less energy-costly muscle fibres are always recruited before larger motor units, which consist of faster, more high-powered but more costly muscle fibres.” This strategy would ensure that slow and postural contractions are achieved in an efficient and fatigue-resistant manner.”
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