Increasing the pectoral "split"

[Jocques Straap]

Try page 54 of the Second Edition of Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier.

B-

I have this book. It has some nice illustrations, however there are many mislabeled muscles, and other editing errors. I wouldn't consider it the most trustworthy source, but is a good flip through for any fitness enthusiast.

The science behind an active muscle contraction states that when a muscle fiber contracts, it contacts evenly along the entire fiber. This balances the "stress" along the entire fiber. There is no way to apply stress to a specific area within a specific muscle fiber.

You can however, target specific muscle fibers, within a muscle group. This allows us to target the upper and lower portions of the pectorals. But not the inner/outer.

You must look at the direction that the fibers run, in order to determine how different stresses can be applied to different muscle groups. Another example is the different heads of the biceps. You can target the inner/outer heads of the biceps by varying a narrow/wide bar grip. But you can not target, upper/lower areas.

 

[SaiBoT]

I have this book. It has some nice illustrations, however there are many mislabeled muscles, and other editing errors. I wouldn't consider it the most trustworthy source, but is a good flip through for any fitness enthusiast.

The science behind an active muscle contraction states that when a muscle fiber contracts, it contacts evenly along the entire fiber. This balances the "stress" along the entire fiber. There is no way to apply stress to a specific area within a specific muscle fiber.

You can however, target specific muscle fibers, within a muscle group. This allows us to target the upper and lower portions of the pectorals. But not the inner/outer.

You must look at the direction that the fibers run, in order to determine how different stresses can be applied to different muscle groups. Another example is the different heads of the biceps. You can target the inner/outer heads of the biceps by varying a narrow/wide bar grip. But you can not target, upper/lower areas.

What about strength curve? Does this book say anything about it?

 

[Jocques Straap]

I see no mention of strength curve on page 54. what about it?

 

[gjohnson5]

The science behind an active muscle contraction states that when a muscle fiber contracts, it contacts evenly along the entire fiber. This balances the "stress" along the entire fiber. There is no way to apply stress to a specific area within a specific muscle fiber.

You can however, target specific muscle fibers, within a muscle group. This allows us to target the upper and lower portions of the pectorals. But not the inner/outer.

I agree

The fibers of pectoralis mojor muscle run from sternum to humerus. They are continuous. the whole length of the fiber either contracts or it doesn't contract. Muscle fiber's don't contract in segments.

Even if someone wants to trot out the motor unit theory (not that anyone has yet, but just in case) as motor units fire sequentially, a motor unit still comprises the entire length of the fiber. Motor units are randomly distributed throughout the muscle itself not in specific regions

What people 'feel' when they do close grip exercises is 'active insufficiency' as the actin and myosin filaments are overlapped due to joint position and are unable to contract further. This results in a shortage of blood flow and possible tissue microtrama. That portion of the muscle fiber will not grow larger because of this. actin/myosin relationship will stay the same and always be in a area active insufficiency at shallow joint angles no matter how the fiber adapts.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

SO basically im not dumb for being 21, I just know that your INNER chest will not grow more than your outer chest if you do close grip exercises. Thats so silly just because your grip is closer doesnt mean your whole pec doesnt move the weight up.

Pushing up weight using your chest uses the whole muscle, since the fibers run horizontally. I think it is a myth, because if people didnt know science it would "seem"l ike close grip would work inner chest.

Does this mean that if someone were to do inner chest exercises every time they did chest they would have a bigger inner chest than an outer chest?

 

[gjohnson5]

Does this mean that if someone were to do inner chest exercises every time they did chest they would have a bigger inner chest than an outer chest?

No , because the muscle is shaped the way it's shaped. Muscles either grow or shrink. They are not reshaped by doing close grip or wide grip exercises

 

[SaiBoT]

I see no mention of strength curve on page 54. what about it?

I'm asking if in the whole book there's any reference about strength curve?

 

[the.gladiator1987]

No , because the muscle is shaped the way it's shaped. Muscles either grow or shrink. They are not reshaped by doing close grip or wide grip exercises

Exactly.

I know of the lower biceps being able to get bigger because you put stress on something that lies underneath the lower part of the muscle, but thats about it.

I do believe you can work upper chest, because of the angle of the lift.

 

[PWR]

Exactly.

I know of the lower biceps being able to get bigger because you put stress on something that lies underneath the lower part of the muscle, but thats about it.

I do believe you can work upper chest, because of the angle of the lift.

I dont do alot of reading muscle books, science and what not. I go off of what my body tells me and what has worked for me over the last 18 years of lifting. You seem to be grabbing along to what someone else says instead of saying all this before yourself. What you did say is that you cannot work different areas of the chest, which is false. But now you say you can work upper chest with inclines, do you not think you can work lower chest with declines?
And I never once said close grip anything will work inner chest.....read my posts again. What I did say is that close grip bench will help add size and a certain peak you want to your pecs. I talked mainly about the squeeze and close contraction. I know that if I do my normal bench and inclines that the outer part of my chest will get very sore but not the inner. If I do crossover cables or slow controlled squeezed flies and really concentrate the inner side of my pecs will get sore around my sternum. And also the top or bottom depending on the angle. Whether its working that area or microtrama I can tell when I focus a certain area.
I wasnt trying to flame you but you opened it up with the "thats dumb" comment when clearly you had that aimed at my post. I do not believe that if you try and work inner chest more it will get bigger than the outer, but I do think if you want to focus on area it will help with you goals. I will leave things alone now. People have different opinions on what works best for them. I can respect that.

 

[timtim]

time under tension on all lockouts for chest will greatly improve the pecs. its the same for pec dec and cablecrossover. i know you dont like the bbing mentality but hold your lockouts for 3 to 5 seconds and keep the rep range high. follow with dc stretching.