The Science of Bodybuilding, Article Critique Example

Muscle lab: Bulk up with the Science of Bodybuilding An Article Critique Discussion and Presentation

Introduction

What constitutes a good body building physique is the fact that the individual’s muscles are properly toned and balanced especially when it comes to looking aesthetically “healthy”. The right volume of muscle mass that one has determines the quality of the body capacity that a particular body builder posses. Relatively, though, gaining such fine looking muscles is not a one-day-one-night work out affair. It could be realized that several months [sometimes even years] of training have to be completed so as to simply accomplish the said type of physique.

To lessen the stress, there had been several researches that have been pushed through to examine which approach is better for body builders to consider, rebuilding muscles from scratch or enhancing the tone of a lost muscle during workouts and training sessions. This particular consideration have been presented through Jessica Hamzelou’s article entitled  Muscle lab: Bulk up with the science of bodybuilding (2010) found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19330-muscle-lab-bulk-up-with-the-science-of-bodybuilding.html. This article is basically a comparative contrast among three other researches on the matter of improving muscle treatment among body builders. These research studies include that of the ones authored by Stuart Philips from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Kristian Gunderson from Oslo Norway; and Charles Lambert from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

These authors have undergone several investigative approaches that could prove their theory behind the implication of different procedures of muscle enhancement among body builders. Concerning such matter, Hamzelou defined each experimental approach and noted how much each of those procedures contribute to the creation of stability in the muscle toning practices that body builders undergo in a regular basis. The article of Hamzelou is divided into five particular sections that feature the different results of the studies of the research authors mentioned herein.

What the Article Tells

It is rather a crucial point of consideration for body builders to find the most convenient way of retaining the “beef” of their muscles. The perfect balance and tone of their muscles is the one that guarantees them of sure win in several fitness competitions and other matters as such. As mentioned by Hamzelou in her article, it is most often than not that body builders are advised to lift as much weight as they could so as to support the toning balance of their muscles. However, in relation to this, several proving researches have been proposed and defined by the authors whose studies Hamzelou featured in her article.

First to note is that of Stuart Philips’ study on muscle building which suggests that it is the slow and steady track of training that helps a body builder win the race of establishing and accomplishing a fully toned set of body muscles over time. To prove this, men in their early 20s were asked to lift weights over several periods consisting of at least 30 to 90 percent of the maximum weight that they are able to lift up. To test how the experiment faired for the body builders, biopsies were taken for examination which yielded the final conclusion that the creation of new muscles is most relatively possible when one becomes accustomed to a proper training approach that would allow them to lift weights in a regular manner until they tire out. Hence, through imposing the establishment of regular training, Philips tries to point out that it is not the weight, but it is instead the consistency of training that makes up the possibility of establishing a more refined and toned muscle for most body builders. In a way, this study supports the condition by which one gains toned muscles through regular training that creates new muscles from scratch.

On the other hand, Kristian Gundersen from Oslo Norway depends more on the existence of the theory behind the muscle memory. Based on the capacity of the body to rebuild lost muscle, Gundersen tries to observe muscle-strength and its capacity to regenerate through an experiment on a mice sample. To make sure that the study is concentrated on one muscle alone, the leg of the sample mice was cut and was then subjected to rigorous physical workout. After which, a biopsy on the remaining muscle that has been worked out has created a finding that shows how the muscle fibers increased up to 37 percent, both consisting of regenerated muscles and those that have been newly formed. These findings have been found to have affected the nuclei fibers that are considered the key to producing new muscle protein which aids both the creation of new muscles and the rejuvenation of the old ones.

Considerably, Charles Lambert imposes the need to focus more on diet. As training is already a given requirement that body builders undergo, it is usually the diet that becomes neglected in the process. Understanding that reckoned carbohydrates is expected to make up 55 to at least 60 percent of the body builders’ energy intake, it is essential that the individuals diet be composed of high level of carbohydrates and yet should also be balanced with at least 25 to 30 percent of protein. Having this balance would enhance the body’s capacity to breakdown the carbohydrates taken in into becoming a source of glycogen which the body uses for energy.

Article Critique

Being a collective presentation of three particular studies, the article of Hamzelou specifically creates a connective relation between the findings of the researches that she has gathered together. Pointing out the highlights of each research made her article more relatively convincing especially in the aspect of examining what particular practice specifically affects the increased capacity of the body to develop muscle integrity, an integral issue among body builders at present. Relatively, the presentation of Hamzelou creates a definition on how relative condition of balancing both work out and diet would best distinctively improve the capacity of the human muscle to both regenerate and create new muscles.

Although effective enough in presenting the collective results of the researches she has gathered together, it could be analyzed that Hamzelou failed to create her own conclusion on the matter, thus leaving the decision of choosing between the three researches’ effectiveness on the part of her target readers. Although it does help in the establishment of engagement between her article presentation and her readers, it could be realized that such weakness makes her article more of a defining factor rather than a concluding piece. Living the decision up to the consideration of the readers is then considered both a sense of strength and weakness especially in the aspect of redefining the course of development that body builders must take into consideration.

Practical Implication of the Article

Even though the article is directed towards body builders [mostly the professionals], it is still implicative that the article presented by Hamzelou is a useful piece of informative writing for all those wanting to reestablish the growth and integrity of their muscles for strength. There are of course those individuals who simply want to build up their body’s muscles for the sake of establishing personal fitness and this article specifically helps in establishing a strong foundation of understanding on how the creation and build up of muscles occur in the body. Giving useful tips both on workout and diet from well tested experiments, the readers are given the opportunity to check on their personal activities and find what is best for them to adjust to be able to attain well toned muscles no matter what the determined condition they may have in mind.

Overall Reaction 

Overall, it could be noted that the article of Hamzelou on Muscle lab creates a scientific basis that not many body builders nor ordinary human individuals are specifically knowledgeable of. Considering that she has collected evidence-based researches, it is then considered that her article has a strong and reliable foundation which defines its strength in gaining specific command about the topic she wants to present to the public. Perhaps it is the lack of an overall conclusion that makes this article more general than subjectively focused on body builders alone. Rated as helpful and definitive, this reading is then considered to have a great impact in presenting the specific course of development that body builders ought to take especially when it comes to the condition by which their body responds to both training and proper diet as balanced elements of their progress in achieving well-toned muscles which they need for fitness matters and for the “show”.

References

Hamzelou, J. (2010). Muscle lab: Bulk up with the science of bodybuilding. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19330-muscle-lab-bulk-up-with-the-science-of-bodybuilding.html. (Retrieved on July 15, 2012).

Reference Tutorial Page. http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/citationresources.cfm. (Retrieved on July 15, 2012).