Probably a dumb ? about muscle size.

[Showy0023]

Sorry if this seems like a dumb Q.

Is there a direct relationship between muscle cell size and strength? In other words is it possible to get stronger w/o an increase in muscle size?

Thanks,

Showy

 

[Oldlifter]

Sorry if this seems like a dumb Q.

Is there a direct relationship between muscle cell size and strength? In other words is it possible to get stronger w/o an increase in muscle size?

Thanks,

Showy

Check out power lifting. Lots of guys that are strong, yet small.





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[1love]

I would say yes to a certain extent. You can learn how to use certain muscles properly and therefore have increased strength as a result and even adrenaline and what not can give increased strength but at a certain point more strength (from muscles)will only come with more muscle, proper training and diet. Thats my stupid person version, I'll let the people with more detailed information answer.

 

[sasquatch99]

it's all about your cns. you get that firing on all cylinders and you can gain maximal strength without adding mass....to a certain point.

 

[btech]

Powerlifters perform assistance work to build up some muscle to help lift heavier weights.

Whether or not it's symmetrical, powerlifting would probably give you a bigger posterior chain than bodybuilding training would.

 

[Nssca]

Strength with no roids= slightly above normal size muscle.

Strength with roids = greatly enlarged muscle.

BigA said it best in his recent thread: Roids equal size.
So, despite what all those "log book warriors" want you to think, it all boils down to how much you take and how well your body can use what you take.
Natural powerlifters are stronger or at lest "as strong as" any bodybuilder but by far smaller than "Enhanced" BB'ers

genetics play a part in how big a muscle cell will ultimately get.

 

[repmks]

Check out power lifting. Lots of guys that are strong, yet small.





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yes but they have to move the weight in the shortest range of motion allowed. their form is alot different. also check out their backs and quads many powerlifters are pretty damn thick.

 

[Oldlifter]

yes but they have to move the weight in the shortest range of motion allowed. their form is alot different. also check out their backs and quads many powerlifters are pretty damn thick.

Agree! Now that you mention it, Mike Katz comes to mind.





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[jm425]

Sorry if this seems like a dumb Q.

Is there a direct relationship between muscle cell size and strength? In other words is it possible to get stronger w/o an increase in muscle size?

Thanks,

Showy

Absolutely. You could be working for purely strength and not at all for hypertrophy. Also, to grow bigger muscle wise, an excess of calories is needed as well, whereas you can get stronger up to a certain point without having to eat a shit ton of food.

 

[btech]

Dave Tate said something to the effect that;

if you train for size, a little bit of strength will come as a side effect. If you train for strength, a little bit of size will come as a side effect.

Darooster - What if we're ONLY talking about guys who are natural, or if we are ONLY talking about guys who are enhanced; does strength training help to elicit big time muscle gain?

 

[Ehren]

I believe so. I trained for strength only when throwing the discus and hammer for years.

Look at guys like Lars Riedel, Jurgen Schult, Yuri Seydich. All around 225lbs, and not particularly lean. But their strength to weight ratio is unreal. 400lb power cleans with very little if any drop, (this is decent clean for a heavyweight oly lifter) 385 snatch, 500-plus bench press for the top guys.

There is almost a taboo status for hypertrophy in this type of training. 5x5 is the highest rep/set range. Its mostly 3's and lots of singles.