Final answer:
Anaerobic exercises can lead to increased muscle size and strength, improved power and explosiveness, and enhanced connective tissue development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anaerobic exercises, such as resistance training or high-intensity strength training, can lead to several functional muscular adaptations. These adaptations include:
- Increased muscle size and strength: Anaerobic exercises cause hypertrophy, which is the enlargement of muscles. This is achieved by increasing the formation of myofibrils and adding structural proteins to muscle fibers, resulting in thicker muscle fibers.
- Improved power and explosiveness: Anaerobic exercises primarily recruit fast-twitch muscle fibers (FG fibers), which are responsible for producing short, powerful movements. By training these fibers, athletes can improve their ability to generate force quickly and explosively.
- Enhanced connective tissue development: Resistance training increases the development of connective tissue, which adds to the overall mass of the muscle and helps contain muscles as they produce powerful contractions.