I need some of the good muscle info

[Reinier]

Where can I find some good info on the chemistry behind muscles... say the structure and functioning of myosin /actin filaments and how it uses ATP etc

[Silverback]

http://muscle.ucsd.edu/musintro/jump.shtml

This should sort you out, if not. Just give me your questions and i should be able to help you no probs

B-R

[Reinier]

thank you thats a very nice link

[ElPietro]

Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning is also a great text for this if you can find it at your library, or better yet, buy it.

[pusher]

Go to a library or campus used book store and find a physio or exercise physio text.

[Reinier]

When a contraction with a low MU recruitment takes place there are many MU's that are not contracting. do these fibers simply passively shorten along?
how exactly does that work

[Gyno Rhino]

Hmm.. There's different schools of thought on that.

Some believe in an all or none principle, as in the fibers either all contract or all do not.
Others believe what you are saying.

[Reinier]

If its all or nothing than how can a muscle contract with different amounts of force

[Silverback]

The way i understand it is that the muscle as a whole 'contracts' but this only applies to a certain number of fibres. For example in a 60% max dumbell curl the whole muscle is contracted to a degree, but certain fibres work 'all' i.e. full length. and the other fibres remain unactivated, do you get me?

This element of physiology goes to prove that the peaking of a bicep is sheer idiocy, because you cant isolate certain areas of a muscle fibre because they work as 'one' and can only get bigger or smaller.