Fast twitch/slow twitch theory doesn’t make sense

Evolution is about individual and collective survival.

The mean ST/FT ratio is close to 1, meaning a balance of stamina and power has been selected as optimal.

Roughly 2/3 of people aren't very far off from that ratio, plus or minus 10% covers the majority.

Further, our muscles are responsive to demands.

And the way motor units respond/ adapt furthers overarching and specific objectives.

But at the smallest level motor units are widely diverse and work in synergy.

At the individual level, Kipchoge or Bekele have more power in their slow fiber, than you have in your fast.

A cheetah is awesome but also useless beyond 30s or so, thus the famous gazelle fake out.

Of course one cheetah can be faster or stronger than the others, you just don't notice because you are running for your life or better yet, rolling up the safari truck windows.

The concept makes sense but it sounds like it's over your head (and it sounds like that bar is not really high). Also, it's not a theory.

maybe this wrote:

The concept makes sense but it sounds like it's over your head (and it sounds like that bar is not really high). Also, it's not a theory.

nah everyone is the same. we have no variation in height, eye color, body frame size, iq, skin tone or a zillion other factors right?

It's not a theory it's reality they have measured sprinters with 70% fast twitch fibers and distance runners and distance runners with 80% slow twitch. This is partially genetic and partially changeable, just like humans have a high level of neuroplasticity meaning you can improve various types of intelligence. We have a high level of muscle-plasticy we can dramatically change the size of our muscles and change the fiber type to an extent. Some of this is genetic, you have to realize humans have lived all over the world for thousands of years yet most animals(of the same species) live in the same place, and related species living in other continents share plenty of differences.

Ggggg wrote:

Can someone please explain to me why biologically wise, some people would have more slow twitch and others would have more fast twitch? Why nature would produce such difference in the same biological creature, the Homo Sapien? All have same limbs and same internal organs but some have fast twitch fibers and some have slow twitch fibers. Have you ever heard of other animals in nature with such biological differences?

They don’t have fast twitch fibers cheetahs that run 60 mph and slow twitch cheetahs that run 40. So would they have people like that. I say this fast twitch slow twitch thing is nonsense

Have you ever met two humans who are identical? There is individual genetic variation across all human physiology. Even identical twins, aren't identical.

Trust me, also cheetahs don’t look alike to each other to themselves, but in their nature they are the same.

Go and kiss your mother’s behind.

USADAWADA wrote:

It's not a theory it's reality they have measured sprinters with 70% fast twitch fibers and distance runners and distance runners with 80% slow twitch. This is partially genetic and partially changeable, just like humans have a high level of neuroplasticity meaning you can improve various types of intelligence. We have a high level of muscle-plasticy we can dramatically change the size of our muscles and change the fiber type to an extent. Some of this is genetic, you have to realize humans have lived all over the world for thousands of years yet most animals(of the same species) live in the same place, and related species living in other continents share plenty of differences.

We don't really change fiber type as that is a result of the motor neuron that innervates the fiber. So a slow twitch does not become a fast twitch. A fast twitch can be "slowed down" a bit to become less fast through training that changes mitochondria density and enzymes, but at the end of the day that fast twitch fiber will still not be as fatigue resistant as a "natural" slow twitch. Fast oxidative (FOG) can also become a little fatigue resistant.

"Partially changeable" might be a little generous IMO.

maybe this wrote:

The concept makes sense but it sounds like it's over your head (and it sounds like that bar is not really high). Also, it's not a theory.

Your mom and and your sister were True fun yesterday

Ggggg wrote:

Can someone please explain to me why biologically wise, some people would have more slow twitch and others would have more fast twitch? Why nature would produce such difference in the same biological creature, the Homo Sapien? All have same limbs and same internal organs but some have fast twitch fibers and some have slow twitch fibers. Have you ever heard of other animals in nature with such biological differences?

They don’t have fast twitch fibers cheetahs that run 60 mph and slow twitch cheetahs that run 40. So would they have people like that. I say this fast twitch slow twitch thing is nonsense

That last line just flies in the face what we see constantly in nature and in a lab.

And for the fast majority of us, the range of fiber types is not that great, but the outliers can be special for sure!

True a fast twitch won't become as slow as a slow twitch, muscles operate on a spectrum of fast and slow there are really about 8 subtypes and fast and slow twitch is an over simplification. Some are hybrids which can change in response to training stimulus this is what I was referring to.

You’re right, it doesn’t make sense, but it’s definitely a real thing. My best events when I first started track were the 200/400m distances. After 5 years of training, building from 35-75 mpw, my best event is the 800m, with my 400m and 1500m being about equal. People that train the exact same as me usually find themselves best at 5k-10k, can’t touch my 400m and usually can’t run what I can for 800m

I have a strong Vo2Max, have the build of a middle distance runner, but have a lot more speed and strength than people with very similar builds/training. I’m also a lot weaker on the endurance side than most people that train like me. I do be fast twitch

Ggggg wrote:

maybe this wrote:

The concept makes sense but it sounds like it's over your head (and it sounds like that bar is not really high). Also, it's not a theory.

Your mom and and your sister were True fun yesterday

You proved my theory about your intellectual bar being very low.

To explain it very simple I prefer to coach a runner with a predominat part of FT fibers.

Why? Because it`s possible over the years to "transform" the FT to work as ST fibers, but not

the other way around.

If this theory of yours is true, then everybody is just as fast but decides to loose un purpose when racing sprints?

SUPERIOR COACH JS wrote:

To explain it very simple I prefer to coach a runner with a predominat part of FT fibers.

Why? Because it`s possible over the years to "transform" the FT to work as ST fibers, but not

the other way around.

It’s a shame that usain bolt didn’t train for distance, woulda made a fine 1:49 marathon guy.

Run6556 wrote:

If this theory of yours is true, then everybody is just as fast but decides to loose un purpose when racing sprints?

This isn`t my theory. Has been proved in many scientific studies.

CopperRunner wrote:

SUPERIOR COACH JS wrote:

To explain it very simple I prefer to coach a runner with a predominat part of FT fibers.

Why? Because it`s possible over the years to "transform" the FT to work as ST fibers, but not

the other way around.

It’s a shame that usain bolt didn’t train for distance, woulda made a fine 1:49 marathon guy.

Not every type of sprinter could be developed to a fast long distancer pf course, but Bolt had a perfect tall slim body so I guess he could have been a great middle/ longdistancer too. That we will never know of course. He didn`t have to try as we know.... ;) :)

We don't really change fiber type as that is a result of the motor neuron that innervates the fiber. So a slow twitch does not become a fast twitch. A fast twitch can be "slowed down" a bit to become less fast through training that changes mitochondria density and enzymes, but at the end of the day that fast twitch fiber will still not be as fatigue resistant as a "natural" slow twitch. Fast oxidative (FOG) can also become a little fatigue resistant.

"Partially changeable" might be a little generous IMO.[/quote]

Exactly. I see all the young slowpokes reading that, and rushing to do their sprint training which will improve their 100 time from 16.6 to 16.4s