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Muscle Remodels to Match Function

A few months ago I was reading a Facebook post by one of my friends Steve Zara about his exercise program.  A number of comments posted suggested that he keep changing his routine in order to "shock" or "confuse" his muscles. The truth is you cannot confuse muscle tissue; period.  It is physiologically impossible. Skeletal muscle tissue is passive, in that it just does what it's told to do through the body's chemical and electrical system.

One reason why you should not change your exercise program too often is that muscle remodels to match function. All muscles are continually being remodeled to match the functions that are required of them. Their diameters are altered, their lengths are altered, their strengths are altered, their vascular supplies are altered, and even the types of muscle fibers are altered. (This is why a sprinter's body looks and performs differently than a long distance runner's body.) This remodeling process is quite rapid but does take nervous system adaptations. This process usually requires 8-20 weeks so if you continue to change your exercise program weekly or bi-weekly your body never has the opportunity to complete the alteration.

My suggestion would be to make certain that you stay challenged during any fitness program. Your breathing and or heart rate (HR) is an excellent indicator as to whether you are feeling challenged or not. Incorporate balancing challenges to your existing program.  And never sacrifice form and technique for speed and more weight.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3057313?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum