Can you shape a muscle?

Buildinthaskinnys · Apr 22, 2009

This is a question asked on another board I frequent, just curious as to what you guys here think.

My answer Is yes to a certain degree, but the larger part is determined by genetics.

Showy0023 · Apr 22, 2009

I think you can only make a muscle larger. Its shape and how it grows / forms would predetermined by genetics.

dieselbuilder · Apr 23, 2009

Im not expert, especially compared to most of the bros on this board, but I figure certain exercises that target specific parts of a muscle can help shape it, but only to a certain degree right? i mean...it makes sense on paper..

SD1959 · Apr 23, 2009

dieselbuilder said:
Im not expert, especially compared to most of the bros on this board, but I figure certain exercises that target specific parts of a muscle can help shape it, but only to a certain degree right? i mean...it makes sense on paper..

True, such as pounding your outer quad etc...but shaping a muscle (eg: bicep "peak") won't happen if your genetics don't provide the raw material.

brineal · Apr 23, 2009

SD1959 said:
True, such as pounding your outer quad etc...but shaping a muscle (eg: bicep "peak") won't happen if your genetics don't provide the raw material.

what mechanism would allow you to shape your outer quad but not your bicep peak? working on quad sweep is about gaining muscle size, not shape imo

SD1959 · Apr 23, 2009

brineal said:
what mechanism would allow you to shape your outer quad but not your bicep peak? working on quad sweep is about gaining muscle size, not shape imo

Exactly!! Your quads will take on a new dimension but only in the "predetermined" growth pattern you were biorn with.
If you don't have genetics for a bicep peak, unfortunately you'll never have it. Guess I wasn't too clear. Be kind. I'm an old-timer.

Lenny · Apr 23, 2009

You can cause the muscles to grow in size, control the conditioning of them, control the leaness, so forth, but can't change the structure you were given. The leaner you make them...the better the perception of the shape of the muscle.

dieselbuilder · Apr 23, 2009

SD1959 said:
Exactly!! Your quads will take on a new dimension but only in the "predetermined" growth pattern you were biorn with.
If you don't have genetics for a bicep peak, unfortunately you'll never have it. Guess I wasn't too clear. Be kind. I'm an old-timer.

Yea that sounds about right. One of my biceps is round, the other is peaked. Just the way it is I guess

btech · Apr 23, 2009

brineal said:
what mechanism would allow you to shape your outer quad but not your bicep peak? working on quad sweep is about gaining muscle size, not shape imo

http://forums.musculardevelopment.com/showthread.php?p=1278246

Tom · Apr 23, 2009

also a misconception

dieselbuilder said:
Im not expert, especially compared to most of the bros on this board, but I figure certain exercises that target specific parts of a muscle can help shape it, but only to a certain degree right? i mean...it makes sense on paper..

it's also a misconception that you can target a specific part of a muscle....you can't. your muscle contracts against resistance and does not know what exersize you're doing. as an example your bicep does not know if you are doing preacher curls, barbell curls or concentration curls. it contracts from origin to insertion against resistance and that's all.

Gutz4glory · Apr 23, 2009

IMO no, you can only work it hard. The rest mother nature will determine.

dieselbuilder · Apr 23, 2009

Tom said:
it's also a misconception that you can target a specific part of a muscle....you can't. your muscle contracts against resistance and does not know what exersize you're doing. as an example your bicep does not know if you are doing preacher curls, barbell curls or concentration curls. it contracts from origin to insertion against resistance and that's all.

Interesting way to put it. Sounds about right. thanks bro

btech · Apr 23, 2009

anyway, i'm surprised a thread like this is on promuscle and not bb.com

chillmatic · Apr 23, 2009

Unless you're referring to hypertrophy and making a muscle grow/larger, the only way you're going to "shape" a muscle is using an artificial substance like synthol.

jdchaffin · Apr 23, 2009

Tom said:
it's also a misconception that you can target a specific part of a muscle....you can't. your muscle contracts against resistance and does not know what exersize you're doing. as an example your bicep does not know if you are doing preacher curls, barbell curls or concentration curls. it contracts from origin to insertion against resistance and that's all.

well, taking the biceps for example. they both insert at the same location on the ulna, but their origins are different. the short head attaches to the corrocoid process and the long head attaches near the apex of the glenoid cavity. can we have perhaps a more exagerated effect upon on of the two heads by finding the right postition?
We do this with calves by bending the knee to reach the solious, would this work perhaps to a lesser degree on other muscles?

rickyboy36 · Apr 23, 2009

Tom said:
it's also a misconception that you can target a specific part of a muscle....you can't. your muscle contracts against resistance and does not know what exersize you're doing. as an example your bicep does not know if you are doing preacher curls, barbell curls or concentration curls. it contracts from origin to insertion against resistance and that's all.

I get what you are saying,but in the case of the bicep you have 2 heads to this muscle.Cant you use a wide grip barbell to work the inner head and a short grip to work the outer?If this can be done,then "shaping" of the bicep is being done somewhat cause your are choosing which head to work on to give you that certain look.I could choose to have a big outer head versus a small inner and vice-versa.This would be shaping it in a way right?But if we look at shaping that certain HEAD of the bicep, like trying to extend it...or give it that peak then you cant--it can only grow according to what your genetics gave you.The same can be said about your triceps(3 heads) and your quads(4 heads) as well.Am i making sense??

DOGGCRAPP · Apr 23, 2009

rickyboy36 said:
Am i making sense??

No your not.

13 years later and all those workouts and different exercises used do you see any difference in the shape of any of his bodyparts except for his waist getting bigger?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBl40IPwqk&feature=related

What you have in the beginning from mom and pop is what you are going to have in the end so you better hypertrophy the hell out of it.

betito · Apr 23, 2009

genetics can produce incredible things when it comes to muscle shape...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldIvLpQCK0k&feature=related

ironwill · Apr 23, 2009

DOGGCRAPP said:
No your not.

13 years later and all those workouts and different exercises used do you see any difference in the shape of any of his bodyparts except for his waist getting bigger?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBl40IPwqk&feature=related

What you have in the beginning from mom and pop is what you are going to have in the end so you better hypertrophy the hell out of it.

Finally........Im glad you are here and totally agree with this answer.....

I believe synthol can help you add different shape to a muscle via fascia stretching, but thats abouit it....the gym wont change the shape, only fill it out to a larger form of what you have....

rickyboy36 · Apr 23, 2009

DOGGCRAPP said:
No your not.

13 years later and all those workouts and different exercises used do you see any difference in the shape of any of his bodyparts except for his waist getting bigger?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBl40IPwqk&feature=related

What you have in the beginning from mom and pop is what you are going to have in the end so you better hypertrophy the hell out of it.

Thats what i was saying Dante,its genetics.But do you agree you can force growth on certain parts of your legs?Like just work the tear drop by doing leg extensions and have that grow instead of the sweep(the sweep will somewhat grow as well)??.Or the inner head of the bicep instead of the outer?