Another adaptive mechanism of the kinetic chain is Muscle hypertrophy characterized by the increase in the cross sectional area of individual muscle fibers and is believed to result from an increase in the myofibril proteins (myofilaments).
Muscle fibers must be recruited in order to induce hypertrophy.
The nervous system must establish the proper connection to effectively communicate with each muscle fiber.
This leads back to the concept of reciprocal inhibition and a concept known as arthrokinetic inhibition.
Arthrokinetic inhibition is a decrease in the recruitment of muscles when pain is experienced with joint motion.
With the presence of reciprocal inhibition and arthrokinetic inhibition, the body is not capable of properly recruiting muscle.
Hypertrophy will be limited in the prime movers and possibly exaggerated in the synergistic muscles.
This alludes to the importance of properly understanding the structural and physiological components of the kinetic chain and how they work together.
The nervous system is a vital component in establishing hypertrophy, yet it is probably the most overlooked.
It is vital to have optimum levels of flexibility to minimize reciprocal inhibition and synergistic dominance.
By properly progressing a training program to establish optimal stabilization of the joints in the kinetic chain, the ability to minimize arthrokinetic inhibition can also be achieved.
Only by properly addressing each of these components (flexibility and stabilization), can the quest for hypertrophy effectively begin.
Other important principles vital to establishing muscle hypertrophy, as well as proper training in general include:
1. Principle of Overload
2. Principle of Variation
3. Principle of Progression
4. Principle of Individualization.