A quantifiable physiological or biomechanical factor that fundamentally limits or defines the maximal force an individual’s musculoskeletal system can generate under specific conditions. These determinants include muscle cross-sectional area, neural drive efficiency, muscle fiber type distribution, and the integrity of the connective tissue matrix. Hormonal factors, particularly the circulating levels and receptor sensitivity of anabolic hormones like testosterone and IGF-1, act as potent modulators of these structural determinants.
Origin
This term is a synthesis of biomechanics, exercise physiology, and endocrinology, focusing on the ultimate biological constraints on physical output. The concept is based on the scientific principle that strength is a complex phenotype determined by both central nervous system activation and peripheral muscular structure. The recognition of hormones as key determinants stems from the understanding of their role in regulating protein synthesis and muscular hypertrophy.
Mechanism
The primary determinant is the total contractile protein mass, which is largely regulated by the balance between anabolic and catabolic signaling pathways. Anabolic hormones stimulate the mTOR pathway, promoting muscle protein synthesis and increasing the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers. Concurrently, the efficiency of neural drive, or the central nervous system’s ability to maximally recruit motor units, is also a critical determinant, often modulated by neurotransmitter balance. Therefore, optimizing the hormonal environment is a direct pathway to enhancing this capacity.
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