Lack of increased rate of force development after strength training is explained by specific neural, not muscular, motor unit adaptations

Although maximal force increases with strength training, the rate of force development may remain unaffected. For the first time, we associated motor unit population behavior during rapid force contractions before and after a 4-wk isometric strength training intervention. We found that strength training combined with slow and rapid contractions does not change rate of force development. The specific mechanisms include similar discharge rate during the initial phase of contraction and similar recruitment speed of motoneurons.