Mathematical model predicts the best way to build muscle

Researchers have developed a mathematical model that can predict the best way to exercise muscles

Researchers from the University of Cambridge built this model using theoretical biophysics methods.

This model is based on an earlier study by the same team.

The results of the study published in the Journal of Biophysics show that there is an optimal weight for resistance training for everyone and each muscle growth target

We all know that exercise can strengthen muscles

When exercising, the higher the load, the more repetitions or the higher the frequency, the greater the muscle growth

Muscles are composed of individual filaments.

This is because data is difficult to obtain: people's physiology and behavior are very different, so it is almost impossible to control the changes in muscle size on real people

A few years ago, Terentjev and his colleagues began to study the mechanism of mechanical sensing, which is the ability of cells to perceive mechanical signals in the environment

In 2018, researchers at the University of Cambridge started a project to study how proteins in muscle filaments change under the action of external forces

Whenever a part of the molecule is under tension long enough, it will switch to a different state, exposing the previously hidden area

If it is held under a greater force or for a longer period of time under the same force, the molecule will be easier to open

This realization led to the current work, initiated by Ibata, who himself is an enthusiastic athlete

Terentjev and Ibata set out to compress a mathematical model that can quantitatively predict muscle growth

Then, they made the model more complex by adding additional information such as metabolic energy exchange, repetition length, and recovery

Terentjev said: "Our model provides a physiological basis for the idea that muscle growth occurs mainly at 70% of the maximum load.

Fionn MacPartlin, senior strength and training coach at the English Institute of Sport, said: “One of the challenges of preparing for elite athletes is to balance energy costs and other related trade-offs, The common requirement to achieve maximum adaptability
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" "This work gives us a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of how muscles perceive and respond to load, which can help us design interventions more specifically to achieve these goals
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"

The model also solves the problem of muscle atrophy, which occurs when astronauts rest in bed for a long time or when astronauts are in microgravity.
It shows how long the muscles can stay inactive before they start to deteriorate, and what is the best recovery plan
.

Ultimately, the researchers hope to develop a user-friendly software-based application that provides personalized exercise programs for specific goals
.
The researchers also hope to improve their model by extending their analysis with detailed data on men and women, as many sports studies are heavily biased towards male athletes
.

DOI 10.
1016 / j.
bpj.
2021.
07.
023

Why exercise builds muscles: Titin mechanosensing controls skeletal muscle growth under load