Muscle cross-sectional area and torque in resistance-trained subjects
Abstract
Eight elite male bodybuilders (MB), five elite female bodybuilders (FB), eight male control (MC), and eight female control recreational weight-trainers (FC) performed maximal elbow flexions on an isokinetic dynamometer at velocities between 1.02 and 5.24 rad.s-1, from which peak torque (PT) was measured. Elbow flexor cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured by computed tomographic scanning. Flexor CSA.lean body mass-1 ratios were greater in MB than in other subject groups. Correlations of PT were positively related to CSA but negatively to CSA.lean body mass-1 and to PT.CSA-1. PT.CSA-1 at low-velocity contractions were greater in MC and FC than in MB and FB groups, suggesting a training effect. The velocity-associated declines in torque between velocities of 1.02 and 5.24 rad.s-1 averaged 28.4 +/- 0.9% and were statistically identical in men and women among the subject groups, suggesting that neither gender nor training had affected this variable.
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Several other studies have found substantially greater muscle size of long-term resistance-trained participants (70% to 86%).
“Several other studies have found substantially greater muscle size of long-term resistance-trained participants [70% to 86% (9, 37, 46, 49)]”
From What makes long-term resistance-trained individuals so strong? A comparison of skeletal muscle morphology, architecture, and joint mechanics (2020) · cites this paper as [9]
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- Authors
- Alway, S. E., Stray-Gundersen, J., Grumbt, W. H., & Gonyea, W. J.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
- ORCID
- Alway, Stephen E.
- Venue
- European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology
- Published
- 1990
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 86-90
- ISSN
- 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
- 0301-5548
- 1439-6327
- OpenAlex
- W1986860202
- Cited by
- 59
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- muscle cross-sectional area, peak torque, resistance training, bodybuilders, weight training, elbow flexion, isokinetic dynamometry, lean body mass, training effects, velocity dependence, sex differences
- MeSH terms
- Female, Humans, Male, Muscle Contraction, Muscles, Time Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Weight Lifting
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