What Factors Affect Your Muscle Strength?
One of the most frustrating parts about bodybuilding is how everyone develops muscle and strength at different rates. You might follow a similar workout program to your friend or foe, but you or they achieve the desired results faster or more effectively.
As frustrating as it can be, many factors can contribute to your muscle strength, some of which you might not have any control over.
Outside Help
If you’re training alone without outside help, you might not achieve your desired muscular strength level at the same time as someone else. For example, a bodybuilder who makes time for chiropractic services might enjoy more strength than someone who doesn’t.
Some studies have shown that additional strength might be achieved in various body parts after spinal adjustments. For example, a lower limb muscle strength increase was seen after one spinal adjustment session, and taekwondo athletes noted a 7.6% increase in plantar flexor muscle strength.
Someone who has access to nutritionists, personal trainers, and healthcare professionals might also benefit from advice that sees their muscular strength better than someone without the same access.
Muscle Fiber Type
We all have fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers. Fast twitch muscle fibers produce high force levels for short periods and are ideal for power activities like weight lifting. Slow twitch muscles are better used during aerobic exercises.
We generally have an equal combination of both, but some people have a higher performance of either. If you have more fast twitch muscle fibers, you might enjoy more significant muscle gains in a shorter period than someone with a higher ratio of slow twitch muscle fibers.
Gender
While men and women are capable of many of the same achievements in life, gender can sometimes play a part in muscle strength. As a rule, everyone has the same muscle tissue, but men typically have more than women do due to the presence of testosterone. The larger the muscles we have, the stronger we are, which is why men are often stronger than women.
Age
While we can change our workout routines to improve our muscular strength and overcome many obstacles, age is one obstacle we can’t overcome. Anyone of any age can enhance their muscles with the right strength training program, but the gains and muscular improvements might take longer and be less noticeable if you’re older.
Studies show that age positively affects biceps muscle cross-sectional area in untrained people from age 18 to 40, and upper body musculature is maintained better with age than the lower body. However, no substantial evidence suggests age is connected to muscle change when people of any age are involved in the same resistance and strength training programs.
Tendon Insertion Points
Unfortunately, we can’t change how we’re built. Some people can lift more weight during bicep curls than others to achieve muscle gains based on where their bicep tendons attach. You might have the same arms and muscle strength as someone else, but if your tendons attach further away from your elbow joint than someone else, you might enjoy a biochemical advantage in being able to lift more weight.
Nearly anyone can become a bodybuilder with enough training, hard work, and dedication. Still, many factors can affect just how much muscular strength you have, such as your access to outside help, your gender, biomechanics, and muscle fibers.
