Last week, I defended my Phd on 'The relevance of muscle fiber typology in sports'🎓.
Next to the PhD, I also made a practical & illustrated guide for the general public & sport coaches!
Following thread summarizes the most important findings.👇👇
#ThesisThread
Next to the PhD, I also made a practical & illustrated guide for the general public & sport coaches!
Following thread summarizes the most important findings.👇👇
#ThesisThread
What is the muscle fiber typology?
Two different types of muscle fibers are responsible for production of movements:
👉slow-twitch 🔴 & fast-twitch fibers ⭕️
Both types are present in all muscles, but their proportion differs between individuals & determines the 'myotype'.
Two different types of muscle fibers are responsible for production of movements:
👉slow-twitch 🔴 & fast-twitch fibers ⭕️
Both types are present in all muscles, but their proportion differs between individuals & determines the 'myotype'.
Why are muscle fibers important?
Muscle fibers have different properties (see picture👇), which result in different characteristics.
Slow-twitch fibers 🔴 are made for low-intensity & long lasting activities
🆚
Fast-twitch fibers ⭕️ are made for fast & powerful actions.
Muscle fibers have different properties (see picture👇), which result in different characteristics.
Slow-twitch fibers 🔴 are made for low-intensity & long lasting activities
🆚
Fast-twitch fibers ⭕️ are made for fast & powerful actions.
What does the myotype look like in animals & humans?
🐭Mammals, like a rat and springbok, display more fast fibers ⭕️ as their survival strategy is to be faster than enemies.
👫Humans evolved to a slower myotype 🔴, which they used as a weapon during persistence hunting.
🐭Mammals, like a rat and springbok, display more fast fibers ⭕️ as their survival strategy is to be faster than enemies.
👫Humans evolved to a slower myotype 🔴, which they used as a weapon during persistence hunting.
Humans show a big spread in their muscle fiber distribution from 20% to 90% slow-twitch fibers.
Therefore the muscle fiber distribution humans can be divided into three 'myotypes':
a slow 🔵, intermediate⚪️ or fast myotype 🟢.
Therefore the muscle fiber distribution humans can be divided into three 'myotypes':
a slow 🔵, intermediate⚪️ or fast myotype 🟢.
What is your myotype: albatross, ape or cheetah?
The myotype follows a Gaussian distribution, indicating that most people are intermediate ⚪️ (like an ape🐒), but some are dominantly slow 🔵 (like an albatross🕊️) and others dominantly fast 🟢 (like a cheetah🐅).
The myotype follows a Gaussian distribution, indicating that most people are intermediate ⚪️ (like an ape🐒), but some are dominantly slow 🔵 (like an albatross🕊️) and others dominantly fast 🟢 (like a cheetah🐅).
How can the myotype be measured?
The gold standard is an invasive method where a small part of muscle tissue is taken with a biopsy needle, which is then analyzed and visualized under a microscope🔬
👍 Gold standard
👎 Not applicable in athletes
👎 High variation
The gold standard is an invasive method where a small part of muscle tissue is taken with a biopsy needle, which is then analyzed and visualized under a microscope🔬
👍 Gold standard
👎 Not applicable in athletes
👎 High variation
Can the myotype be estimated in a non-invasive way?
✅Yes!
A method using an MRI-scan was invented in which calf muscles are scanned to determine the concentration of a fast-twitch metabolite, which is then translated into a myotype.
👍 Applicable in athletes
👍 Low variation
✅Yes!
A method using an MRI-scan was invented in which calf muscles are scanned to determine the concentration of a fast-twitch metabolite, which is then translated into a myotype.
👍 Applicable in athletes
👍 Low variation
Can I discover talent based on the myotype?
✅Yes!
Data on 86 elite athletes🏃and 80 cyclists🚴show distinct profiles in between disciplines:
A slow myotype 🔵 might be favorable for endurance disciplines
🆚
A fast myotype 🟢 might be needed for explosive disciplines
✅Yes!
Data on 86 elite athletes🏃and 80 cyclists🚴show distinct profiles in between disciplines:
A slow myotype 🔵 might be favorable for endurance disciplines
🆚
A fast myotype 🟢 might be needed for explosive disciplines
What does the myotype look like in team sports?
A big spread in myotypes can be witnessed in soccer ⚽️, as both slow 🔵, intermediate ⚪️ and fast myotype 🟢 players are present.
❌No differences in myotypes were found in between different positions on the field.
A big spread in myotypes can be witnessed in soccer ⚽️, as both slow 🔵, intermediate ⚪️ and fast myotype 🟢 players are present.
❌No differences in myotypes were found in between different positions on the field.
Can we adapt a training program based on the myotype?
💡Results from a single training
10 slow 🔵 and 10 fast 🟢 myotype subjects performed 3 x 30 sec all-out on a 🚲.
In the fast myotype group 🟢:
➖Power drop was higher
➖Recovery took much longer
💡Results from a single training
10 slow 🔵 and 10 fast 🟢 myotype subjects performed 3 x 30 sec all-out on a 🚲.
In the fast myotype group 🟢:
➖Power drop was higher
➖Recovery took much longer
Can we adapt a training program based on the myotype?
💡Results from an overload study
16 high level runners🏃performed 3 weeks of overload training.
Runners with a faster myotype 🟢 showed a higher incidence of functional overreaching.
➡️ Fatigue accumulation was higher
💡Results from an overload study
16 high level runners🏃performed 3 weeks of overload training.
Runners with a faster myotype 🟢 showed a higher incidence of functional overreaching.
➡️ Fatigue accumulation was higher
Overall guidelines for myotype-based training:
Individualization of training volume, frequency, recovery and taper might be needed!
👇👇
Individualization of training volume, frequency, recovery and taper might be needed!
👇👇
Can we estimate the injury risk based on the muscle typology?
A study in 95 elite soccer players ⚽️ demonstrated the importance of myotypes on the risk of sustaining a hamstring strain injury
Fast myotype 🟢 players showed a 5.3 x higher risk
🆚
slow myotype players 🔵
A study in 95 elite soccer players ⚽️ demonstrated the importance of myotypes on the risk of sustaining a hamstring strain injury
Fast myotype 🟢 players showed a 5.3 x higher risk
🆚
slow myotype players 🔵
🔥Take home message🔥:
The myotype is an important characteristic of an athlete which has multiple applications in sports:
➖ Talent identification
➖ Training individualization
➖ Injury risk
The myotype is an important characteristic of an athlete which has multiple applications in sports:
➖ Talent identification
➖ Training individualization
➖ Injury risk
Do you want to know your myotype? 🧐
We have optimized the non-invasive scan technique, also called 'the muscle talent scan', to allow scanning on multiple scan sites. After the scan (25 min) an individualized report will be provided👇.
More info?
muscletalentscan.com
We have optimized the non-invasive scan technique, also called 'the muscle talent scan', to allow scanning on multiple scan sites. After the scan (25 min) an individualized report will be provided👇.
More info?
muscletalentscan.com
Do you want more detailed information?
📢 Contact me via twitter or e-mail elilieve.lievens@ugent.be
🔍 Read our illustrated guide
ugent.be/ge/bsw/nl/onde…
💡 Acces my PhD
biblio.ugent.be/publication/87…
Thanks to @Teamderave @FloreStassen @FWOVlaanderen and all collaborators!
📢 Contact me via twitter or e-mail elilieve.lievens@ugent.be
🔍 Read our illustrated guide
ugent.be/ge/bsw/nl/onde…
💡 Acces my PhD
biblio.ugent.be/publication/87…
Thanks to @Teamderave @FloreStassen @FWOVlaanderen and all collaborators!
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