Can passive tension increase muscle fiber diameter?
For many months, Paul has been telling me that some researchers and fitness influencers are taking the position that passive mechanical tension can stimulate increases in muscle fiber cross-sectional area. This article explains why that is impossible (and not just improbable).
Comments (2)
In this study «Passive repetitive stretching is associated with greater muscle mass and cross-sectional area in the sarcopenic muscle», 2021 (Infographic «Passive stretching increases muscle fiber size but not satellite cell number?»), the increase in muscle fiber cross-sectional area (type IIA) is mentioned. Does it refer to whole muscle size change? Always, Thank you!
Strictly speaking, that is a sarcopenia model that shows that the application of passive static stretching prevents losses in muscle fiber CSA in comparison with the unstretched limb. Very odd finding though, because the rest of the literature doesn't show that happening.