would be primarily dependent on total fibre number. Therefore, one should
first take into account total fibre number before studying any rela-
tionships between muscle development and muscle fibre cross-
sectional area. Lefaucheur (2010) also reports, a strong positive corre-
lation between the cross-sectional area of muscle fibres and muscle
development which can be expected by a constant total fibre number.
In the present study, however, the thinnest fibres were in NL not in
NDL. Growth in muscle fibre length is also important when explaining
muscle growth. Muscle fibre length is difficult to measure, and there-
fore, increase of length of muscle fibres is poorly known.