Predominantly Fast twitch? Or low lactic Acid threshold?

[DrBones]

I've just started noticing something recently in my bicep training
(I HATE TRAINING BIS BY THE WAY)

Any sets with rep ranges over 5-6 reps, regardless of the weight, weather it be 70lbs or 100 lbs, my biceps are completely dead. Now anything below 6 reps is fine.. doesn't seem to be a problem... but as soon as I bypass 5-6 reps, boom... the excercise becomes incredibly difficult.

My question is....
Do you think this signifies that my biceps are composed of primarily fast twitch fibres? Or do you think that my lactic acid threshold of my biceps is so low, that when lactic acid starts building up, my arms can't handle it and can no longer move the weight.

*NOTE* - I've been training my arms with mainly low reps for the last 8 months.... and VERY low volume. Up until about 8 months ago, I used to train my biceps in the 8-10 rep range and never had a problem...

Thanks

 

[T-Rage]

It could be just that you have been doing the 6 rep thing for so long that your bis are not conditioned to handle the higher reps. I guess it would be like a sprinter deciding to run a marathon one day. He would probably not make it very far.

When I was younger I used to do 4 sets of 20 reps and it really helped to shred me. I liked the higher reps. Well, after lifting for a year around the 8 - 12 range if I did 20 reps it would burn like hell.

 

[The Red Dragon]

Low rep training = higher fast twitch fibre development

 

[DrBones]

Low rep training = higher fast twitch fibre development

I realize this but I'm pretty sure its impossible to convert existing fibres into another type.. however, you can train them to act like the other...

Anybody else have any more info?

 

[T-Rage]

One more thing I'll write more about after I lift. Some books are now refering to the muscle types as not only type I and type II buy also type IIa. The type IIa are capable of becoming type I or type II depending on the training.

 

[skaman607]

so what color are those, pink?

 

[T-Rage]

I had it some what wrong. Now I have the book in front of me.

Type II (fast twitch, power) are broken down into Type IIa and Type IIb where Type IIa can have greater aerobic endurance than the type IIb. Ultimately the type IIb are totally power and nothing else.

 

[killa in manila]

type I=red
type II a=white
type II b=white
type II c=white

 

[Jacob Creutzfeldt]

I would assume that when you start getting a pump it creates a large amount of intramuscular friction and backpressure that lowers the opposing force you apply to the barbell.

 

[argent]

I would assume that when you start getting a pump it creates a large amount of intramuscular friction and backpressure that lowers the opposing force you apply to the barbell.

I don't know about that bro. I've never heard anything close to that.

 

[DrBones]

bump!

 

[CipherLock]

Why don't you try training in the 6+ rep range for a few months and then test the flip side of this theory?

If you come back and can't handle the really heavy weights for <6 anymore but you are using 80% + of your max for serious sets of 6+ then it would most likely be the adaptation.

But in the case of the other then you have found out that your biceps are predominantly fast twitch.

 

[DrBones]

Why don't you try training in the 6+ rep range for a few months and then test the flip side of this theory?

I kind of am... I'm now doing Animal Masses DFHT training (see sticky at the top of the board) and there are all sorts of different rep schemes...

If I was to do strictly 6+ reps on bis for the next 6 months it would be bad for a couple of reasons... Fast twitch fibres are larger than slow twitch fibres.. so If i eliminate a lot of my fast twitch work my arms will most likely grow less...
Also, it will totally screw up my new training since it is based on periodization...

Thanks for the input though