{"id":7730,"date":"2026-01-18T18:13:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T18:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/?p=7730"},"modified":"2026-01-18T18:13:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T18:13:32","slug":"what-is-muscle-hypertrophy-and-why-it-is-important-for-you-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/na\/what-is-muscle-hypertrophy-and-why-it-is-important-for-you-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Muscle Hypertrophy And Why It is Important For You To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Train for hypertrophy if you want optimal muscle growth and strength gains!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ever wondered about the scientific name for muscle growth? You probably guessed it by now but yes\u2026 it\u2019s called \u201cmuscle hypertrophy\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are potentially two types of hypertrophy that you should be aware of \u2013\u00a0Sarcoplasmic (fluid and glycogen increase) and\u00a0myofibrillar hypertrophy\u00a0(myofibril size increase).\u00a0<\/strong>Since the goal of most athletes and regular fitness fanatics is increasing hypertrophy and strength, it\u2019s helpful to know how the process works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the exact science of muscle growth has still not yet been concluded, we generally know what it takes to achieve hypertrophy through training, nutrition, and other muscle-promoting factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So What Exactly Is Hypertrophy?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Well\u2026 we already know it\u2019s an increase in muscle volume and mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But\u2026 to dig deeper, let\u2019s talk about the two likely processes of hypertrophy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sarcoplasmic Hypertrophy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy<\/strong> is explained as an increase in fluids and energy substances surrounding the myofibrils contained in muscle fibers. The fluids include ATP, glycogen, creatine phosphate and water which increase the volume within a cell to create more space between muscle fibers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This form of hypertrophy supports overall visual muscle size which is less conducive to overall muscle strength increase and function. It\u2019s believed that bodybuilders benefit most from sarcoplasmic hypertrophy because strength is not needed to support the increase in muscle size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myofibrillar Hypertrophy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

myofibrillar hypertrophy<\/strong> occurs from myofibrils (long strands in skeletal muscle which contracts) splitting off and forming more contractile proteins within a muscle fiber. This type of hypertrophy is supposedly better for strength athletes as it is conducive to more strength output (Contractile units) rather than purely muscle growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The increase in contractile units makes for a more functional muscle which is typically why strength athletes don\u2019t need to have as much total muscle mass. Although, they still have a decent amount of overall size if training using higher rep ranges as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does hypertrophy work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you weight train, you\u2019re basically tearing down your muscle fibers and hypertrophy occurs as a result of different factors such as anabolic levels, nutrition, and optimum recovery and nuclei. This is known as myofibrillar hypertrophy as explained above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Science has shown that the muscle fibers increase in volume as a result of myonuclei (Control centers of muscle fibers) multiplication within muscle fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much muscle you can grow depends on your myonuclei count. Myonuclei are formed from satellite cells that provide nuclei to the muscle for repair after a tough training session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you increase myonuclei?\u2026 By progressively increasing damage to the muscles. So in other words, more training volume should promote more nuclei in the muscles.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other form of hypertrophy (sarcoplasmic) occurs when the fluids within a muscle fiber increases while the fibers do not increase in size as much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both forms of hypertrophy would have to occur though, regardless of if you train more for strength or muscle mass. However, the ratio of myofibril to sarcoplasmic increase will obviously be different between two individuals with a different training focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who Can Benefit from Hypertrophy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is\u2026 Everyone can!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who doesn\u2019t want increased strength and muscle growth? Well, probably people that enjoy having little muscle mass\u2026 and there\u2019s nothing wrong with that!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strength athletes<\/strong> \u2013 Training style is important for a strength athlete (In the case that science is correct about the theory of myofibril hypertrophy). That is why strength and power athletes can (Potentially) benefit more from myofibrillar hypertrophy training (reps of 3-6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A strength athlete relies on muscle density and contractile units used to recruit more muscle fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bodybuilders <\/strong>\u2013 Muscle growth is the goal of every bodybuilder. Although they can greatly benefit from myofibrillar hypertrophy (and they do), the scientific reasoning behind sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is more conducive to overall visible muscle mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, sarcoplasmic hypertrophy has not been proven as an exact science. However, someone seeking size gains would benefit from a similar (Or exact) scientific theory of training in such a manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Old School Bodybuilders<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Are The Benefits of Hypertrophy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are so many benefits to hypertrophy that we can name the most important few\u2026 So we\u2019ll do just that if you were wondering what you can expect from a hypertrophy training program\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n