AN INTRODUCTION TO

MUSCULAR FITNESS

Health Components

Muscular strength includes two health related components of fitness:

1. Muscular strength

2. Muscular endurance

Muscle Map—see your hand-outA good program works all muscle groups.11 Major Muscles (or muscle groups)1. Biceps

2. Pectoralis major (pecs/chest)

3. Triceps

4. Rectus abdominus (abs)

5. Quadriceps

6. Deltoids

7. Trapezius (traps)

8. Latissimus dorsi (lats)

9. Gluteals

10. Hamstrings

11. Gastrocnemius & soleus (calves)

The “Look”

People with more muscle look trimmer because muscle is more dense than fat. One pound of muscle takes up less space than one pound of fat.

Toned muscles do not allow protruding areas (abdomen)

Good posture makes people look better.

Muscle Fibre

Skeletal muscle is attached to bone by tendons. When muscles contract (shorten) they produce movement.

Skeletal muscle is made up of fast-twitch and slow-twitch fibres.

Heredity determines the number of fast-twitch and slow twitch fibres you have.

A ligament attaches from a bone to a bone. Helps to secure bone joints

Endurance vs Strength

Strength training uses heavy weights and low repetitions – this builds bulk and strength ie. Bench press 120lbs for 4 - 6 reps x 3 sets

Endurance uses less weight and more repetitions ie. Bench press 50 lbs for 12 – 15 reps x 3 sets

Metabolism

Having more muscle burns more energy. When we exercise our muscles they require more energy and our body gets used to this process. Our body’s metabolism helps control the use of energy required by our muscles.

Myths About Weight Training Weight training makes you muscle-

bound and inflexible. Weight training is unfeminine for

women. Muscle will turn to fat if you stop working

out. I don’t want to become “too ripped”—it

will look gross!

The Two Types of Fibers

(cross country runners) (sprinters)

Slow-twitch: these fibers contract slowly but have the ability to continue contacting for long periods of time. Because they do not tire easily, these fibers are best suited for endurance and aerobic activities.

Fast-Twitch: these fibers contract quickly allowing explosive muscular contractions and lend themselves to anaerobic activities.

Apply the Principle of Overload(skeletal muscle becomes stronger when it works harder than it is accustomed to working)

Methods For Developing Muscular Fitness

Three Types of Exercises

1. Isometric

2. Isotonic

3. Isokinetic

Safety when Weight lifting Use a spotter Don’t lift more than you can handle Perform exercises slowly and correctly Breathe in when returning and exhale on

exertion.

Isometric

In isometric exercise, you contract your muscles but they do not change their length. There is no movement.

Strength is developed, but only at the position the exercise is performed.

Will not improve muscular endurance or flexibility.

Isotonic Isotonic exercises are those in which the

muscle lengthens and shortens through its full range of motion while lowering and raising a resistance. Resistance can be in the form of weights, or your own body weight. **Limited by the capacity of your limb at the weakest joint position.**

Isotonic exercises are excellent muscular fitness developers.

Isokinetic

Isokinetic exercises use specially designed machines to overcome the disadvantages of isometric and isotonic exercises.

They allow you to overload the muscle with maximum resistance through an entire range of motion at a constant speed.

There are no “true” isokinetic machines!

Apply The Training Principles Overload your muscles! F—muscles require about 48 hours to

grow and recover. You can alternate muscle groups each day.

I—The amount of weight you lift (resistance) For muscular strength use 60-90% of your maximum. For muscular endurance use 30-50% of your maximum.

Overload continued

T—the number of times the exercise is performed. A repetition is the completion of one full range movement of the body part. A group of repetitions is called a set. Usually you do 3-4 sets of each exercise with a two minute rest interval between each set.

Muscular endurance: 12-20 reps Muscular strength: 4-8 reps

Eventually you will be asked to create your own weight training circuit. More information

will follow.

Begin to think about the type of program you would want to use and your specific needs.

Creatine / Steroids

Creatine is a chemical produced naturally by the amino acids in the body. When taken in excessive amounts it helps to repair muscle tissue and increases the size and strength of muscles.

Steroids – are synthetically made chemicals that also increase the size and strength of muscles.

Possible Side Effects of Steroid Use Liver cancer Kidney damage Increased risk of heart disease Stunted growth Mood swings Acne Increased irritability and

aggression