• Question: Is there a limit to the physical strength of the human bicep

    Asked by rmat1298 to Liam on 18 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Liam Bagley

      Liam Bagley answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      Hi rmat1298,

      There is a limit yes! We do a lot of experiments on this in our lab. Muscle strength is limited by how big the muscle is. The bigger it is, the more force it can produce, so for example, Arnold Schwarzenegger ahas HUGE muscles and can produce a lot of force.
      Some people are naturally more strong than others though as you are born with a set amount of muscle fibres. So you cannot actually grow new muscle through training, however they get bigger and bigger as you train them!
      All of your muscle may not be used when you contract it aswell. Your nerves only control a certain amount of your muscle and some of this muscle doesn’t get activated. Look at the picture on my profile of my friend Mat having his bicep muscle being electrically stimulated, this stimulates ALL OF HIS BICEP, which means you get the maximum strength out of all the muscle, which adds about 20% more power!
      Liam

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