Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy After Aerobic Exercise Training

Overview

Journal Exerc Sport Sci Rev

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2014 Feb 11

PMID 24508740

Citations 138

Authors

Adam R Konopka

Matthew P Harber

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Current dogma suggests that aerobic exercise training has minimal effects on skeletal muscle size. We and others have demonstrated that aerobic exercise acutely and chronically alters protein metabolism and induces skeletal muscle hypertrophy. These findings promote an antithesis to the status quo by providing novel perspective on skeletal muscle mass regulation and insight into exercise countermeasures for populations prone to muscle loss.

Citing Articles

Optimizing concurrent training programs: A review on factors that enhance muscle strength.

Wang T, Bo S Medicine (Baltimore). 2025; 103(52):e41055.

PMID: 39969307 PMC: 11688070. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041055.

Myogenic differentiation markers in muscle tissue after aerobic training.

Hoseini R, Hoseini Z, Kamangar A Heliyon. 2025; 11(2):e41888.

PMID: 39897925 PMC: 11787638. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41888.

Fat-Free Mass: Friend or Foe to Metabolic Health?.

Oliver C, Climstein M, Rosic N, Bosy-Westphal A, Tinsley G, Myers S J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2025; 16(1):e13714.

PMID: 39895188 PMC: 11788497. DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13714.

Synergistic Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Physical Activity on Oxidative Stress Markers and Antioxidant Mechanisms in Aged Rats.

Paduchova Z, Gajdosova L, Katrencikova B, Horvathova M, Orszaghova Z, Andrezalova L Nutrients. 2025; 17(1.

PMID: 39796529 PMC: 11723026. DOI: 10.3390/nu17010096.

Factors, mechanisms and improvement methods of muscle strength loss.

Wang K, Wang X, Wang Y Front Cell Dev Biol. 2024; 12:1509519.

PMID: 39698495 PMC: 11653071. DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1509519.

References

Raue U, Slivka D, Jemiolo B, Hollon C, Trappe S . Proteolytic gene expression differs at rest and after resistance exercise between young and old women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008; 62(12):1407-12. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/62.12.1407. View

Dickinson J, Volpi E, Rasmussen B . Exercise and nutrition to target protein synthesis impairments in aging skeletal muscle. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2013; 41(4):216-23. PMC: 3790587. DOI: 10.1097/JES.0b013e3182a4e699. View

Williamson D, Raue U, Slivka D, Trappe S . Resistance exercise, skeletal muscle FOXO3A, and 85-year-old women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2010; 65(4):335-43. PMC: 2844061. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glq005. View

Constable S, Collins R, Krahenbuhl G . The specificity of endurance training on muscular power and muscle fibre size. Ergonomics. 1980; 23(7):667-78. DOI: 10.1080/00140138008924781. View

Durham W, Casperson S, Dillon E, Keske M, Paddon-Jones D, Sanford A . Age-related anabolic resistance after endurance-type exercise in healthy humans. FASEB J. 2010; 24(10):4117-27. PMC: 2996901. DOI: 10.1096/fj.09-150177. View

Harber M, Crane J, Dickinson J, Jemiolo B, Raue U, Trappe T . Protein synthesis and the expression of growth-related genes are altered by running in human vastus lateralis and soleus muscles. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2009; 296(3):R708-14. DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.90906.2008. View

Harber M, Trappe S . Single muscle fiber contractile properties of young competitive distance runners. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2008; 105(2):629-36. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00995.2007. View

Hubal M, Gordish-Dressman H, Thompson P, Price T, Hoffman E, Angelopoulos T . Variability in muscle size and strength gain after unilateral resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005; 37(6):964-72. View

Konopka A, Douglass M, Kaminsky L, Jemiolo B, Trappe T, Trappe S . Molecular adaptations to aerobic exercise training in skeletal muscle of older women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2010; 65(11):1201-7. PMC: 2954235. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glq109. View

10.

Roth S, Martel G, Ferrell R, Metter E, Hurley B, Rogers M . Myostatin gene expression is reduced in humans with heavy-resistance strength training: a brief communication. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003; 228(6):706-9. DOI: 10.1177/153537020322800609. View

11.

Charifi N, Kadi F, Feasson L, Denis C . Effects of endurance training on satellite cell frequency in skeletal muscle of old men. Muscle Nerve. 2003; 28(1):87-92. DOI: 10.1002/mus.10394. View

12.

Trappe T, Carroll C, Dickinson J, LeMoine J, Haus J, Sullivan B . Influence of acetaminophen and ibuprofen on skeletal muscle adaptations to resistance exercise in older adults. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2010; 300(3):R655-62. PMC: 3064281. DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00611.2010. View

13.

Konopka A, Trappe T, Jemiolo B, Trappe S, Harber M . Myosin heavy chain plasticity in aging skeletal muscle with aerobic exercise training. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2011; 66(8):835-41. PMC: 3202903. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glr088. View

14.

Gollnick P, Armstrong R, Saubert 4th C, Piehl K, Saltin B . Enzyme activity and fiber composition in skeletal muscle of untrained and trained men. J Appl Physiol. 1972; 33(3):312-9. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1972.33.3.312. View

15.

Brault J, Jespersen J, Goldberg A . Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha or 1beta overexpression inhibits muscle protein degradation, induction of ubiquitin ligases, and disuse atrophy. J Biol Chem. 2010; 285(25):19460-71. PMC: 2885225. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M110.113092. View

16.

Short K, Vittone J, Bigelow M, Proctor D, Nair K . Age and aerobic exercise training effects on whole body and muscle protein metabolism. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2003; 286(1):E92-101. DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00366.2003. View

17.

Coggan A, Spina R, King D, Rogers M, Brown M, Nemeth P . Skeletal muscle adaptations to endurance training in 60- to 70-yr-old men and women. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1992; 72(5):1780-6. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1992.72.5.1780. View

18.

Coggan A, Spina R, King D, Rogers M, Brown M, Nemeth P . Histochemical and enzymatic comparison of the gastrocnemius muscle of young and elderly men and women. J Gerontol. 1992; 47(3):B71-6. DOI: 10.1093/geronj/47.3.b71. View

19.

Crane J, MacNeil L, Tarnopolsky M . Long-term aerobic exercise is associated with greater muscle strength throughout the life span. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012; 68(6):631-8. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/gls237. View

20.

Costill D, Fink W, Pollock M . Muscle fiber composition and enzyme activities of elite distance runners. Med Sci Sports. 1976; 8(2):96-100. View