Gaining stength means gaining size?

[nilla]

If your strength is always increasing on what ever workout it may be,does this mean your also putting on mass im that paticular area of the body?

[lionelxxl]

If your strength is always increasing on what ever workout it may be,does this mean your also putting on mass im that paticular area of the body?

Well, the answer in not exactly VERY CLEARCUT. But in a nutshell, most INITIAL strength gains come from neural improvements/progress. Hypertrophy may/may not come into play depending on a host of other factors (rep range/% of RM and so on).

[Sonny]

Well, the answer in not exactly VERY CLEARCUT. But in a nutshell, most INITIAL strength gains come from neural improvements/progress. Hypertrophy may/may not come into play depending on a host of other factors (rep range/% of RM and so on).

....Agreed.

[cmm-DPT08]

also agree.....recruiting a greater % of muscle fibers will yeild stronger contractions and you will be 'stronger'...you can do this without getting 'bigger'

[Renegade]

there is no direct corralation between muscle size and muscle strength

[The Grim Repper]

....Agreed.

Seconded...um...thirded...

[B-natural]

I think for a mind/body type of focus, if you are gettin stronger you feel bigger, even if it is not the case. As long as my rep range is in the optimal range for hypertrophy and my control and rep speed are under control and my weights increase then sure with my strength I'd say size follows, but like the rest I agree it is not clearcut

[regrob12]

I think for a mind/body type of focus, if you are gettin stronger you feel bigger, even if it is not the case. As long as my rep range is in the optimal range for hypertrophy and my control and rep speed are under control and my weights increase then sure with my strength I'd say size follows, but like the rest I agree it is not clearcut
B,
what would you say the rep range should be for strenght and not adding mass?

[B-natural]

odd question, again, not real clear cut, but between 1-5

[liftin9]

i think it is correct to say that you will get stonger only up to a certain point without adding mass, and anything above that should come with mass gains. so, there is a direct correlation between strength and mass for an individual but not when comparing different people.

[The Grim Repper]

The science of loading parameters is very cool to learn about as it's interesting and can be put into practice with the iron. You can become stronger (ie, capable of generating more force) without gaining mass/weight. Strength athletes need to do just that to remain in a lower weight class. A very simple way to look at it as was said is that typically, lower rep ranges (using greater resistance) will tend to trigger neural adaptations allowing for greater force production whereas higher rep ranges with lighter loading parameters will trigger hypertrophy or gains in mass. Other rep ranges (somewhere in the middle) can add strength as well as size. One's own genetic predisposition (fiber types) play a major role as to what type of training one 'takes to' as well. A very simplified view, but should get you on your way.

All of this is well and good, but in our quest to become stronger and bigger, the cycling of training (periodization) needs to be applied. Many speak in fairly broad terms of what rep ranges define training. Alternating periods of strength (5-8) or power (1-3) training with cycles of hypertrophy (8-12 or higher) training is a good approach.