Chapter Four

Exercise to Increase Muscle Strength

Definition 63
Factors determining muscle strength 63
Training adaptations 63
Principles of exercise design to increase muscle strength 65
Equipment 67
Other methods to increase muscle strength 71
Assessment of muscle strength 72
Guidelines for prescription of exercise to increase
muscle strength 75

An overview of muscle strength is provided in this chapter.

Assessment of muscle strength and training adaptations following
a successful resistance training programme are considered. Exercise
design, based on current guidelines for increasing muscle strength,
is discussed and example exercises given.

Definition
Muscle strength is the ability of a muscle to generate force. This may
be by isometric or static muscle contraction, concentric muscle con-
traction, where the muscle shortens as it contracts, or eccentric mus-
cle contraction, where the muscle lengthens as it contracts.

Factors determining muscle Strength

An individual’s muscle strength is determined by several factors.
These are considered in Table 4.1.

Training adaptations
Following a properly designed strength training regime various
adaptations will be seen. Systemically a muscle-strengthening pro-
gramme, which targets several muscle groups, may result in a more 63