Eight weeks of resistance training increases strength, muscle cross-sectional area and motor unit size, but does not alter firing rates in the vastus lateralis

Previous investigations analyzing resistance training’s influence on motor unit (MU) firing rates have yielded mixed results. These mixed results may be clarified by concurrently measuring changes in MU size. Thus, this study analyzed whether post-training strength gains were due to increases in MU firing rates and/or sizes as measured indirectly via action potential amplitudes. Sixteen males (age = 20.7 ± 1.9 years) completed 8 weeks of...