I was just thinking about tempo and motor unit recruitement and thought of some questions you guys might be able to answer. So heres my thoughts.
*The muscle fibers with the most potential for growth, are the ones that are the last to be recruited. You have to lift near maximal weights near maximal speed to recruit them.
*In order to make a muscle fiber hypertrophy, it needs to not only be recruited but fatigued to a point.
*The fibers that are the hardest to recruit, fatigue with the least amount of stimulation. And the fibers that are easiest to recruit take the most stimulation to fatigue.
This is where my thoughts become a bit hazy, but heres what im thinking.
*If you start a workout with heavier weights, with less reps, or less TUT, you’ll be able to recruit and fatigue the largest MU’s. Then you can lower the weight and/or decrease the rep speed and target the rest of the fibers. Now im not saying you have to work in different rep ranges in the same workout but it is certainly feasable and if your concerned with size you should probably be at least hitting the different rep ranges in each week. Some form of pyramiding might be a good idea as well…
Also, this has to do with my current thoughts of mixing accumulation and intensification into one cycle. The only problem im seeing is theres a tradeoff. Theoretically the best strength gains are going to be achieved when strength is the only quality focused upon, while mass gains will be best when mass is focused on.
The only thing im wondering is how does CNS fatigue and overall fatigue factor into this. Because it certainly cant be just about recruiting and fatiguing the maximal amount of MU’s
Just some random thoughts I was having here. I think i kinda get it now, although im probably more confused as well.