Which statement about novice strength gains is supported by the material?

• A. Novices gain little strength because motor units are already maximally recruited.
• B. Novices can't recruit Type IIb fibers at all.
• C. Novices gain strength quickly because they learn to recruit more existing muscle fibers.
• D. Novices only recruit Type I fibers.

Answer: (C)

Early strength gains in beginners come from neuromuscular adaptations: the nervous system becomes much better at activating the muscles it controls. With practice, more motor units are recruited and they fire more synchronously and at a higher rate, while coactivation of opposing muscles may decrease. This means you can generate more force by recruiting more existing muscle fibers, even before the muscles themselves have grown much. It’s not that motor units are already maximally recruited or that only slow-twitch fibers are used; with training, beginners learn to bring more fibers, including fast-twitch ones, into action as needed. That’s why strength can increase quickly at the start as neural control improves.