During exercise, you use different types of muscle fibers. Fast twitch and slow twitch are the main fibers used during activity. Some people have more of one type of fiber than the other. You have the ability to increase the different muscle fibers through training. Fast twitch muscles are also known as type II muscle fibers. These types of fibers are anaerobic, contract quickly, and fatigue faster than slow twitch fibers.
Fast Twitch Fibers
Fast twitch muscle fibers are known as anaerobic muscle fibers. This means that they are used more during anaerobic activities. They fatigue quickly, which means they would be bad for activities that require you to perform for a long period of time.
Exercise Using Fast Twitch Muscles
Exercises that use fast twitch muscle fibers include sprinting, weightlifting, and other exercises that involve quick bursts of speed or power. Normally, you are not able to sprint for an extended period due to the fast twitch muscle fibers being used tiring out quickly.
Movements Produced
Fast twitch muscle fibers are equally as important as slow twitch muscle fibers. When you produce rapid, powerful, explosive movements, you are using fast twitch muscle fibers. During movements such as sitting with good posture, walking, or jogging long distance, slow twitch muscle fibers are used. Slow twitch fibers are slower to fatigue and therefore are used for movements that are done for longer durations.
Increasing Fast Twitch Muscle Fibers
When you perform quick, powerful movements, your body first increases slow twitch muscle fibers. After this increase, if our body finds it necessary, fast twitch fibers are increased to meet the demand. If you perform more quick, powerful, or explosive movements, your body will begin to increase the amount of fast twitch fibers you have.
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