Final answer:
Muscles can be unintentionally weakened through muscle atrophy due to inactivity or malnutrition. Strengthening muscles can happen through intentional means, such as resistance training and exercise that promotes muscle hypertrophy, or unintentionally through daily physical tasks. Rest is crucial for preventing injuries and aiding muscle strength development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ways People Weaken Their Muscles
People can unintentionally weaken their muscles in a couple of ways. One common way is through muscle atrophy, which can occur due to a lack of physical activity, often as a result of being immobilized because of injury, surgery, or prolonged bed rest. Another way muscles can weaken is through malnutrition, as seen in extreme environments like famine conditions where the body starts to consume muscle mass for energy.
Ways People Strengthen Their Muscles
Conversely, individuals can strengthen their muscles both intentionally and unintentionally. Intentional muscle strengthening generally involves exercise, particularly resistance training and weight-bearing activities, which lead to muscle hypertrophy. Even everyday activities that increase the heart rate such as running or brisk walking can strengthen the cardiac muscle. Unintentional muscle strengthening might occur in regular daily tasks that involve lifting, carrying, or prolonged physical activity.
Muscles that are under our conscious control, such as skeletal muscles, are called voluntary muscles. In contrast, involuntary muscles, like cardiac muscles, operate without our conscious input. Proper rest and recovery are essential for preventing injuries and ensuring that muscles respond well to exercise and become stronger over time.