shocking the muscle

[novastepp]

^This.

There is also research that supports variety for maximal gains. Variety does not mean adding in a high risk/low reward exercise, it can be accomplished simply by alternating loads, rep ranges, rest intervals, and resistance curves to a low risk/high reward exercise. So its not a matte of "shocking" the muscle rather its all about providing it with the appropriate stimulation to induce a growth/adaptive response.

Nonuniform Response of Skeletal Muscle to Heavy Resistance T... : The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research

Regional hypertrophy - changing the shape of muscles

annnd this.

[hellomycognomen]

annnd this.

Nova,

I added a compartmentalization theory link, very interesting read.

-Cheers mate.

[Ashop]

I'm still a firm believer that you have to keep the body guessing and switching up workouts and routines on a frequent basis.
I only do the same movement 3 weeks in a row and then I switch to something else. When I finally do go back to that exercise
I'm just as strong or stronger than I was. I've continued making progress up into my 40's now using this method.

[Buster Brown]

I'm still a firm believer that you have to keep the body guessing and switching up workouts and routines on a frequent basis. I only do the same movement 3 weeks in a row and then I switch to something else. When I finally do go back to that exercise I'm just as strong or stronger than I was. I've continued making progress up into my 40's now using this method.

I feel the same way and the reason being is because of the results it has provided me with. I think theories and studies are great and sticking with one routine while your a novice lifter is great and that one should squeeze as much as possible out of those workouts however as one advances so don't the workouts due to adaptation.

[novastepp]

Nova, I added a compartmentalization theory link, very interesting read. -Cheers mate.

Right on.

[novastepp]

Nova, I added a compartmentalization theory link, very interesting read. -Cheers mate.

I wonder how much compartmentalization has to do with synergy of nearby muscles? I feel that, as a hypothesis, some compartmentalization would occur to allow such synergy.

[hellomycognomen]

I wonder how much compartmentalization has to do with synergy of nearby muscles? I feel that, as a hypothesis, some compartmentalization would occur to allow such synergy.

I'm sure that the repeated synchronous activation of nerves when performing an exercise over and over plays a lot into their response. Its interesting that one can even potentially attain gains (albeit limited) just by the bodies cross education.