Question

Outline the major neural adaptations a muscle undergoes to gain strength in the absence of muscle hypertrophy.

Answer 1

There are several reasons for the strength gains:-

Increased motor unit activation – a motor unit consists of motor nerve cell present in the spinal cord, and all the muscle fibres under its controls. When a motor unit is activated all of the muscle fibres it supplies contracts equally during movements . But because of regular practice , For controlling muscle force production, the motor units will can fire at will at different frequencies, so different ie greater number  of motor units will be recruited to the muscle. Thus training has the ability to improve activation and the firing ability of the motor units which will allow greater force production.

Neural cross-education – It is seen that there can be an increase in the strength of one arm, by training of other arm unilaterally. This is due to a phenomenon called cross education ie. the nerves on each side of spinal cord communicate to each other for efficient movement of muscle . This is why one is able to produce greatest force while performing single limb activities rather bilateral movements.

Synchronization – it refers to the actual precise timing of action potentials of different active motor units during contraction . In muscle cell an action potential is 1st step in the chain of events leading to a contraction of the muscle. The synchronization in the body improves, providing more force production from muscles.