Surprising twist: One study found that sarcomeres stretch rather than split during muscle growth. Yet other research shows they do divide. So which mechanism actually drives growth? Might depend on the exercise. https://s.fitbodyscience.com/q9qL8H
Contradicted by evidence
Strong evidence contradicts these claims.
New study says muscles grow when tiny units split, but older research suggests they just stretch.
Other research backs the idea: scientists have watched sarcomeres split in half as muscles grow, and studies found that after certain exercises, the number of sarcomeres increased along the muscle length. However, other research contradicts this: one study found that muscles got longer because the sarcomeres themselves stretched, not because new ones were added. So the mechanism isn't settled.
So the new study offers an intriguing possibility, but it's not the final word — the field still disagrees on whether muscles grow by splitting or stretching sarcomeres.
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Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.