Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 20

Discuss how detraining following strength training affects muscle fiber size and strength.

Step 1 of 2

The physiological adaptations that take place during endurance training gradually subside and come down to normal if an individual discontinues exercise training. While rigorous training program causes an increase in the maximal muscle dynamic strength of an individual to about 60%, detraining causes only 30% decrease in the maximal dynamic muscle strength. Muscle atrophy accounted only for about 10 to 12%.

The fact that a decrease in the dynamic muscle strength is not primarily due to muscle atrophy shows that the decrease is mainly due to changes in the nervous system and not muscle atrophy.