Final answer:
Strength gains in children are primarily driven by hypertrophic factors such as increased production of myofibrils and sarcomeres within muscle fibers, influenced by hormonal changes and resistance training, rather than neurological factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
When addressing the claim that hypertrophic factors as opposed to neurological factors are primarily responsible for strength gains in children, it is essential to understand the process of muscle growth and development. Muscle hypertrophy occurs when there is an increase in the size of muscle fibers due to the addition of structural proteins. This process is crucial for increasing muscle mass and strength. In contrast, neurological factors relate to the efficiency of muscle fiber recruitment during muscle contraction, which can also affect strength but is not the primary driver of strength gains in children.
Children experience an increase in muscle strength primarily due to hormonal changes during growth periods, like puberty, which lead to an increase in the production of structural proteins within muscle fibers. Physical activities, especially resistance training, contribute to the hypertrophic growth of muscles by increasing the number of myofibrils and sarcomeres. However, the number of skeletal muscle fibers remains constant, as they are genetically determined.
Therefore, while both hypertrophic and neurological factors impact strength, the hypertrophic changes, particularly in response to hormones and physical training, play a more significant role in the strength gains observed in children. This contrasts with the endurance training, which enhances muscle efficiency without significantly increasing muscle size.