Neuromuscular Aspects of Physical Activity

by Gardiner, Phillip

• ISBN13: 9780736001267
• ISBN10: 0736001263
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-03-29
• Publisher: HUMAN KINETICS PUBLISHERS

Summary

There is no shortage of research findings in the burgeoning field of the neurosciences and molecular biology and their impact on the physiology of exercise.Now >Neuromuscular Aspects of Physical Activity> brings together-in one focused text-the latest research compiled from an array of sources and fields of science, including neuroscience, kinesiology, molecular biology, and physiology. The comprehensive approach makes it an excellent textbook for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in muscle physiology courses. It's also an outstanding reference for exercise and muscle physiologists.This advanced text is thoughtfully organized in a logical way, building from a foundational discussion of muscle fibers and motor units to cover the neuromuscular responses to physical activity.Among the many features that make this text invaluable to students are discussions of current issues in the field, especially the debate surrounding the sources and significance of fatigue at different levels of the nervous system and whether the spinal cord can "learn."This thorough and remarkably current text features the following:ST>--More than 155 diagrams-Meticulous, up-to-the-minute references-Highlights of fatigue, endurance training, resistance training, and inactivity-Topics sparsely covered in research literatureNo other text so clearly ties recent research information from neuroscience and molecular biology to our understanding of the physiology of exercise.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgments	ix
Credits	xi
Muscle Fiber Types	1	(36)
Grouping Fibers by Myosin Heavy-Chain (MHC) Composition	3	(5)
Functional Properties of Fibers Containing Different Myosin Heavy-Chain Profiles	8	(24)
Fiber Types and Performance	32	(4)
Summary	36	(1)
Motoneurons and the Muscle Units They Innervate	37	(46)
The Muscle Unit and Muscle Unit Types	39	(8)
The Motoneuron Component of the Motor Unit	47	(16)
The Heckman---Binder Model of Motor Unit Recruitment	63	(3)
Motor Unit Recruitment During Different Types of Voluntary Contractions	66	(15)
Summary	81	(2)
Neuromuscular Fatigue	83	(28)
Two Basic Fatigue Mechanisms Involving the Nervous System	85	(4)
Reduced Motoneuron Activity During Various Types of Contractions	89	(18)
Evidence From Reduced Animal Preparations on Mechanisms of Neuromuscular Fatigue	107	(3)
Summary	110	(1)
Endurance Training of the Neuromuscular System	111	(32)
Muscle Adaptations	112	(16)
The Neuromuscular Junction	128	(5)
Motoneuron Adaptations to Endurance Training	133	(4)
Spinal Cord Adaptations to Endurance Training	137	(4)
Summary	141	(2)
Strength Training	143	(28)
Acute Effects of Strength Training on Protein Synthesis and Degradation	145	(9)
The Chronic Effect of Resistance Overload on Muscle Phenotype	154	(7)
Neural Effects of Resistance Training	161	(8)
Summary	169	(2)
Neuromuscular Responses to Decrease in Normal Activity	171	(32)
General Principles Underlying Neuromuscular Responses to Reduced Activity	173	(3)
Models of Decreased Neuromuscular Usage	176	(26)
Summary	202	(1)
References	203	(28)
Index	231	(6)
About the Author	237