Nervous System Adaptation Essays - Anatomy, Muscular System

Nervous System Adaptation Adaptation plays a significant role in exercise development as seen by mental imagery, cross education, and coactivation. The body must establish and modify it's own neural network before it can strengthen. A weight lifter can improve his workouts by understanding the fundamentals of NSA. The nervous system plays a large role in how a muscle develops. For example Scientists have found that people who visualize their workouts can stimulate a significant amount of muscle growth. Although scientists would not advise solely visualized workouts they do stress the importance of good mental preparation to help physiological adaptation. Another example of how the nervous system effects muscle development is in cross education. When one injures a muscle often times the doctor will tell them to work the opposite uninjured muscle. This action will indirectly stimulate the injured muscle. When a novice weight lifter flexes a muscle, the opposing muscle restricts movement. After working out for a period of time, this misfiring of the neurons will dissipate. This phenomenon is known as coactivation. Also, in synchronization a novice weight lifter's movements will be shaky until his or her neural network has adjusted itself.