Neural Issues in the Control of Muscular Strength

During the earliest stages of resistance exercise training, initial muscular strength gains occur too rapidly to be explained solely by muscle-based mechanisms. However, increases in surface-based EMG amplitude as well as motor unit discharge rate provide some insight to the existence of neural mechanisms in the earliest phases of resistance exercise training. Moreover, other phenomena such as the cross transfer of strength following unilateral exercise and neural changes following limb immobilization also support a role for neural control in muscular strength. While studies to date have focused on the phenomenon of neural change, future studies will need to focus on the many motoneuron influences as well as intrinsic motoneuronal properties that may be responsible for these neural adaptations.