Abstract

Human skeletal muscle is composed of varying percentage of fiber types. This percent composition varies widely between muscles and among individuals. The fiber composition of some skeletal muscle could be construed as being advantageous to successful performance in selected athletic event. However, this relationship is not sufficiently close to warrant the conclusion that the fiber composition of the muscle per se is the determinant of the superior performance of elite athletes. Reasonably good evidence exists to support the position that the fiber composition of a muscle is the result of a genetic endowment. Although muscle fibers are mutable, present evidence is equivocal as to whether habitual participation in given type of physical activity is responsible for high percentages of a given fiber type being present in the muscles of some athletes. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)