How does strength work? and why do AS increase it?

[USHP]

It is a great question but unfortunately the complete answer is very complex and some of it is still theory. The amount of research is huge and I don't think you could really simplify it enough to put in a post here. Even doing something like a google search would take you forever to sort through the BS. I'd get a couple of books to read written by some of the guys who are quoted here a lot.

 

[jokerswild]

I will do some research but I was wondering if anyon ahd a good break down on this. I understand how muscles grow bigger (tear down/rebuild effect) but what about for strength?

i think it s a combo of more red blood cells=more oxygen in muscle combined with better protein sythesis, plus the mental part plays a huge role, if you see you self growing in the mirror and fell jacked and strong you will lift more because of that, in your mind you know you have an edge and you try to exploit it.....

 

[massatronic]

In Arnie's encyclopedia he talks about inbuilt inhibitors to muscle contraction, as you train you increase you range of fibre recruitment and strength. He suggests cramp is the feeling of entirely uninhibited contrcation. In this way you become more efficient, stronger without being bigger.

Larger muscle fibres is the priority of a body builder whereas a weight lifter has a greater focus on this dynamic control of his muscles.

I always think the rapid strength gains beginer trainers make reflect this conditionning of muscle they already have more than new gains in size.

 

[SlimJim300]

One thing that people dont think about is the impact the efficiency of the nerves have on strength. Nerves adapt somehow to become better at stimulating the muscles for greater contractions. Muscles pretty much grow by adding what are called myofibrils, microscopic fibers, to the muscle cell. The muscle will grow thicker in circumference. Skeletal muscles have a very limited potential for splitting and making new cells, so its a matter of making the cells you do have thicker. Thicker cells will develop greater pulling force.

Oh, and AS increase the protein synethesis in the muscle cell nucleus, which will in turn lead to an increase in the fibers.

I agree with Maldorf. BBers often underestimate the power the CNS has on strength. But many factors affect strength -- CNS stimulation/efficiency, protein synthesis, CP stores, water retention, etc.

 

[phatrr]

AAS might not do as good at increasing strength as it does at increasing muscle mass. The two are not the same thing.

Strength, as noted above, has many components. There's muscle fiber type: slow twitch, and fast twitch. Fast twitch usually equates to greater strength; slow twitch to endurance. Search on "muscle fiber type".

The CNS plays a huge role in strength. Search on "psyched" training.

The neuro-musculature systems plays a role, especially in beginners - this is one of the reasons that beginners experience quick gains. Not because their muscles are growing, but because their nerves are learning how to control the muscle better/more efficiently.

So, with all that said, there's a couple components to which AAS contribute: the first is to the growth of existing muscle fiber, especially fast twitch. Search on "hypertrophy". The second is to the development of new muscle fibers - and this is a huge area of research/contention, as it used to be "gospel" that you couldn't increase the number of muscle fibers you have, but that might just be wrong. Search on "hyperplasia".

Finally, there's a psychological component to AAS: the increased feelings of aggression can translate into a better "psyched" state, which is a CNS function.