physiology

Every once in a while, we get a study that either confirms or helps direct bodybuilding practices. This is one of those studies. - These researchers found that eating every 3-hours was more effective at maintaining protein synthesis rates over a 12-hour period than eating a smaller protein dose...

When we talk about tendon stiffness, we're essentially discussing how well a tendon can transmit force. A less stiff tendon can be thought of as a thin rubber band whereas a stiffer tendon would be a much thicker rubber band. Which one snaps with more force? The thicker one, of course! Adding...

When doing full body splits, it’s important to perform lower body exercises before upper body exercises. We see evidence of this importance in studies showing that performing upper body exercises to fatigue can impair your ability to maximally activate lower body muscles. This is likely evidence...

Muscle gains can also be specific to the range of motion used. This study found that quarter squats emphasized the upper thigh whereas full squats developed the entire thigh. Therefore, changing the range of motion in an exercise can be an effective method of targeting certain regions of the...

Betaine is a naturally occurring osmolyte found in a handful of foods. Betaine may promote water retention in muscle cells which can increase cell swelling during exercise, AKA: help you get a better pump. This increase in cell swelling may also benefit protein signaling after exercise. Betaine...

Gains in muscle size are specific to the range of motion used. Partial range of motion movements will only isolate a specific portion of the muscle whereas full range of motion typically develops the entire muscle – both quarter and full squats resulted in similar upper thigh growth but only...

European Journal of Applied Physiology April 2019, Volume 119, Issue 4, pp 825–839 | Cite as Mechanisms of vitamin D on skeletal muscle function: oxidative stress, energy metabolism and anabolic state Authors Authors and affiliations Katarzyna Patrycja DzikJan Jacek KaczorEmail author This...

While the, “Anabolic Window,” is certainly wider than initially thought, studies do show that this window is much smaller in trained individuals than untrained individuals. And this particular study found this effect after only 8-weeks of training! Therefore, highly-trained individuals may...

Muscles can produce much more force eccentrically than concentrically. Therefore, a limiting factor in strength performance is concentric force production - you can lower a weight but can't lift it! This study confirmed the specificity of strength gains in finding that subjects using...

Lifters often forego isometric training as they feel it won’t have much impact on hypertrophy. While that may have some truth to it, isometric training is incredibly beneficial for joint health. This study found that isometric training significantly increased patella tendon stiffness compared to...

This study found that trained men were able to recover quicker than trained women following a heavy resistance training protocol. Researchers are uncertain as to why this may occur – gender differences in central fatigue may be a primary reason. This means that men might be able to train muscle...

A study found that consuming high GI carbs after a workout was more effective at replenishing muscle glycogen levels than consuming low GI carbs. White rice, white bread, and sugary cereals are all great options if you are needing to replenish carbs rapidly (e.g at a competition where you have...

DHEA has long been purported to increase testosterone and muscle mass in bodybuilders but studies show that’s not the case. DHEA doesn’t have any effect on testosterone and will not increase gains from a resistance training program. A few studies do show mild cognitive benefits in older...

This study found that subjects who were dehydrated at 2.5- and 5% of their bodyweights had higher insulin levels following exercise. Dehydration can reduce insulin sensitivity which can impair muscle growth and overall gains. Drink 16oz of water before and after your workout and shoot for at...

Vitamin C is a popular antioxidant and immune system booster. Its antioxidant properties, however, make it unsuitable for ingestion around a workout. Antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress that accumulates during exercise. Oxidative stress may act as a growth signal, so reducing the amount can...