The Science of Muscle Growth - and What It Means in Practice, with Professor Michael Roberts

Every programme rests on some idea of what drives muscle growth. This episode looks at where the molecular and applied research supports that thinking - and where it does not.Professor Michael Roberts is a professor at Auburn University and one of the world's leading researchers on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, with a laboratory spanning cell culture, rodent models, and applied human research.In this episode, you will learn:What is happening inside a muscle cell when it growsWhy mechanical tension appears to be central to hypertrophyWhat the evidence shows about testosterone and the androgen receptor in muscleWhy women with much lower testosterone than men can still make similar relative gains with resistance trainingWhere the evidence lands on rep ranges and weekly set volumeWhy drop sets are unlikely to add much once sufficient tension and volume are already in placeWhat sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is, and when it may occurWhy recent research suggests muscle fibres may grow by adding more myofibrils, not just by making existing ones biggerKey insight: Consistent mechanical tension, applied through a moderate rep range and sufficient weekly volume, appears to be a central driver of hypertrophy. The more complex the technique, the less likely it is to add much on top of that foundation.Resources & Links Dr. Tony Boutagy - https://tonyboutagy.com Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tonyboutagy/ Professor Michael Roberts - https://education.auburn.edu/directory/profile.php?id=mdr0024Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory - https://education.auburn.edu/kinesiology/research/molecular-applied-sciences/index.phpRoberts Lab eLife paper on myofibril adaptations - https://elifesciences.org/articles/92674