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(ryolacap @ Oct. 19 2008,1:47)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">I am also thinking that activation is important in it's relation to tension. Meaning that each individual MU or muscle cell, must 'feel' the same amount of tension no matter what the actual tension is on the entire muscle, since the tension would be spread out to an amount of MU in relation to that tension. ie 10 MU's pulling 100 pounds = 10 per MU but increase to 200 pounds the muscle would increase to 20 MU's which still = 10 pounds per MU. If tension is always equal then the main importants of heavy weight is overall MU activation, which relates to the amount of times the weight is lifted. So volume might have a huge importance on overall hypertrophy. And progession in volume over time just might be as effective as tension as long as you progess in tension also</div>
I never have said volume has no part to play, if so go do one 1RM rep and be done. What isn't known, at least as far as I am aware, is where is the sweat spot?, is it set?, is it sliding?, is it indivualistic? all these questions are yet to be answered.
Which is one reason I personally like a set volume, there is no guessing involved. If I have been doing 20 reps with X amount, increasing the load over time and then alfter a few weeks I've gained a 1/4 inch, the only thing that has changed is the load.
Just my opinion mind you.
As far as activation, again I have no doubt that it is key and a while back there was a paper looking at some molecules reaction to activation frequency while blocking tension production, guess what the molecules did react.
Dual progressive systems has been used for years, start with my 5RM when I can do 8 reps add more weight, or whatever RM you wish to analyze, it all adds up the same. Once the muscle has adapted to the loading, adding more volume does train the engergetics of the cell and this energetic system can cause changes in size but what is changing, contractile elements or metabolic?