The length-tension relationship of skeletal muscle is well-known; however, scientists and fitness professionals rarely realize its relevance to muscle growth. We know that mechanical tension is the main stimulus for muscle growth and the length-tension curve shows us that muscle fibers experience the greatest amount of tension at longer lengths. This is why training with a full range of motion is generally better for gains than partial ROM, but there’s more than meets the eye there that I’ll cover tomorrow.
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▪️ Source: Lieber, R. L., Roberts, T. J., Blemker, S. S., Lee, S. S., & Herzog, W. (2017). Skeletal muscle mechanics, energetics and plasticity. Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation, 14(1), 108.