Bodybuilders stimulate muscle growth by performing high-intensity, low-repetition workouts. Bodybuilding workouts force your muscles to adapt to increased demand by increasing contractile elements and support structures within your muscle cells,...
Muscle contraction is necessary for movement of your body. Your muscles are made up of highly organized proteins with specific roles in muscle function. The sarcomere, or functional unit of the muscle, consists of fibrous proteins that use energy...
All of your muscle fibers have varying numbers and sizes of the exact same internal components, and each component works continuously during all forms of physical activity. Particular kinds of training can emphasize functions of individual...
Calcium is one of the most common minerals in the human body, and 99 percent of the calcium in your body is stored in your bones and teeth, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium serves several vital functions within your body. It...
Fat and muscle are two different types of tissues. They both play an important function in your body and one can't replace the other. The cells that form tissues are differentiated from stem cells -- and once this happens you can't turn one into...
Stretching your muscles is very good for them. Stretching every day improves flexibility, enhances your athletic performance and reduces your risk for injury during other forms of physical activity. Stretching a muscle actually makes it stronger,...
The muscles of the body are an integral part of function, movement and structure for the body. By keeping them healthy and strong, both your internal health and external appearance are affected. This is a key reason why millions of Americans...
Microtrauma is the best way to describe the pain within your muscles after a workout. There have been several incorrect conclusions about the sources of pain, including one pervasive myth about lactic acid being the cause of pain, but damage to...
Imagine taking a walk with friends when you suddenly experience a crippling knotting up of the muscle in the back of your leg. This is a muscle cramp, characterized by twinging of your muscle and often accompanied by extreme sudden pain. Muscle...
Exercising and eating a healthy diet are a key for effective weight loss. Strength training is a form of exercise that involves contracting muscles against heavy resistance. As a result of regular strength training, your muscle strength and mass...
Calcium is used by almost every cell in your body. While most of the calcium your body has is stored in the bones and teeth, each cell has its own way of storing and releasing the calcium it needs when it needs it. Adults under the age of 50...
Your body is able to adapt to almost any kind of stimulus or stress. Though exercise is healthy, it stresses the body and challenges it to perform more efficiently and effectively. As soon as you begin exercising, your skeletal muscles begin...
Striated muscle, the type of muscle that vertebrates use to move their bodies, makes up about 40 percent of the total body mass in humans, according to Dr. Michael D. Mann of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. These muscles undergo a...
Calcium is so important to muscular function that if blood calcium runs low, your body will take the calcium from your bones for use. Of all the minerals, your body contains the most calcium, states the National Institutes of Health Office of...
Myoplex Lite is a lower calorie version of the Myoplex protein drink. Protein drinks are alternatives to food sources of protein and were originally intended as such. It is always best to get all macro nutrient (carbohydrates, protein and fats)...
With so many names of the components of a muscle, it is difficult to keep them all straight. Whether it is fibers or filaments, each component has a specific role in the structure and function of each muscle.
Calcium, a positively charged molecule, is useful many places within the human body. The role of calcium inside the nervous system extends from the initiation of a nerve signal to the action taking place. Calcium signals an impulse to a muscle...
Although it's not the first place you may think of calcium working in your body, muscle cells rely on calcium as an essential component to function properly. Calcium assists the mechanism in which your muscle fibers work to contract and produce...
Muscles are made up of tiny, long fibers. Muscle tissue is used to move the skeleton, but it's also found in the gastrointestinal tract. The heart is also a muscle, which contracts and relax to pump blood to the lungs and throughout the body....
Your muscles are made up of thousands upon thousands of muscle fibers. Within each muscle fiber lies a sarcolemma, the protective sheath around a muscle fiber and a sarcoplasm, the protection around myofibrils. One single muscle fiber contains...
When you consume more calories than your body needs, you will gain weight. Your body stores the extra calories you consume as fat in your adipose tissue. An easy way to lose weight is to increase your metabolic rate. You can raise your metabolism...
Drinking coffee before a workout can make the difference between an average exercise session and a fat-burning, endurance-based, motivated workout. Caffeine can improve your workout by making your exercise program longer and more effective. When...
Resistance training is the fastest, most effective way to increase muscle size in men. When you train with resistance, micro-traumas form in the muscle tissue, activating special cells that make the muscle fiber larger. Hormone levels, age and...
Working out your muscles with resistance training is an effective way to build or maintain muscle strength, which is especially important if you are elderly and at risk for osteoporosis. However, with a busy schedule, finding time to work out is...
With a decent understanding of the causes and a few simple steps, you can greatly limit muscular pain and soreness. The adage "no pain, no gain" isn't always true. Consult your physician before beginning any diet or exercise program.
