Muscle Repair Time

Muscle Repair Time

When muscle has to contract against a larger than average resistance, it adapts by getting bigger and stronger. Also, if muscle has to contract over long periods of time it gets more resistant to fatigue. This adaptive process has helped to reduces stress on our bodies and propel us through evolution.

When you lift weights at the gym you cause microscopic tears to your muscle fibers. This initiates a process called muscle protein-synthesis. This muscle building process uses amino acids to repair and reinforce fibers, making them more resistant to future damage. This occurs at the microscopic level. That is why it takes so long to build significant muscle.

How often should I work out my muscles?

This is a great question because you will not gain any muscle without with the correct stimulation, rest and nutrition. Researchers at the University of Texas in Galveston have concluded that muscle protein-synthesis is most prominent for up to 48 hours after a resistance training work out. What that means if you work out on Wednesday at 7 a.m., your body is building muscle until Friday at 7 a.m. Following that 48 hours your body no longer has any stimulus to build muscle. That is why most astute trainers recommend a full-body workout, 3 times a week.

Posted by TheSage on May 4 2006 in Fitness

16 Responses to “Muscle Repair Time”

  1. Jakob Says:

    This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title Muscle Repair Time. Thanks for informative article.

  2. Mark Says:

    Thank you so much. This helped me quickly find out how to safely stay in shape!

  3. Justin Says:

    Is there any way to heal faster, or is nutrition and rest the only two things that will suffice?

  4. TheSage Says:

    You hit the nail on the head with your observation. The only way to shorten muscle repair time in our opinion, is with hormones or peptides (i.e. testosterone, peptides = HGH or IGF-1 LR3).

  5. ukeminem88 Says:

    again, exactly what i was looking for! thanks a lot for the info on working out muscle repair time!!!

  6. stacy Says:

    does anyone know if igf makes hgh work faster?

  7. TheSage Says:

    IGF-1 is the anabolic catalyst; the liver converts hGH into IGF-1.

    Exogenous hGH injections typically take two to six months to see results. IGF-1, especially, the long version take effect in a couple of weeks.

  8. stacy Says:

    thanx for the help…so in ur opinion is igf better than hgh?i been on a witch hunt for some groth, still no luck if igf is better ill just quit while im ahead.

  9. TheSage Says:

    You should be talking to a hormone doctor regarding this matter. In my opinion hGH is not cost effective. IGF-1 works in a matter of weeks instead of months.

  10. Seb Says:

    thanks soo much for the info

  11. basskiller Says:

    you will not gain any muscle without with the correct stimulation, rest and nutrition

    I wish more people would read the line above. I see it time and time again where people will over do one and leave the other two lacking.
    Muscle mass can be simplfied by three terms

    Training – to grow, you must tear down the muscle first (micro tears as the sage stated)
    diet – what you eat and when
    rest/recooperation – your muscles actualy grow during your resting peroid

  12. Leroy' Says:

    o really thats how ya do it huh?

  13. Kiko Says:

    Hi mates Ive been wondering every time when I start fitnes my body starts retain water and my face looks puffy.. I really dont like myself with this puffy face. I made some search on internet and I realise that this muscle repair cost me water retaining so I was thinking if I start using amino acids the muscle repair will be easyer for my body and wont hold much water… What do you think any ideas how to avoid puffyness from training? Thank you and sorry for my spelling Im from Bulgaria and my english is not good enough.

  14. Ian Says:

    I am concerned with working my arms too much – I read that it inhibits repair and growth. My understanding from this article is that I can safely work them every 3 days without inhibiting growth.

    A bit if background. I’m nursing a knee injury at the moment so my cardio is 25 mins bike @70% mhr and 10mins aqua jogging at a relatively high intensity. My weight training includes dumbbell bicep curls, dumbbell chest flies, pull down, chest press, shoulder press, the row, triceps kick back and the shrug. I usually break up my weights session by working on core strength with Russian twists and the bicycle and some crunches.

    Thanks again for your informative post!

  15. siddhartha Says:

    thanks for it……..this what i was searching for many year…..i used to do resistance workout every day…….which was totally wrong nd the result was i lost my musles…..as it shrinked……
    i was thinking that i used to work everyday then why didnt i got muscles……i answer……>muscle requires time to recover…..i got it and i will give 48 hr to repair ….after my workout……thanks a lot angain…..i am very happy <3

  16. big ray Says:

    i work out like this and gained 100lbs without protein drinks or steroids in 2 years i started out small and weak and slowly did more per workout up till now i work out my upper body 2 days in a row then my legs the following day then a rest day and kept doing this now my arms are 23inche my chest is huge my legs are trees eveyones body is different mine was never this way i made it that way and am bigger then most steroid users i know

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