Resistance training enhances muscular force due to a combination of neural plasticity and muscle hypertrophy. It has been well documented that the increase in strength over the first few weeks of resistance training (i.e. acute) has a strong underlying neural component and further enhancement in strength with long-term (i.e. chronic) resistance training is due to muscle hypertrophy. For obvious reasons, collecting long-term data on how chronic-resistance training affects the nervous system not feasible. As a result, the effect of chronic-resistance training on neural plasticity is less understood and has not received systematic exploration. Thus, the aim of this review is to provide rationale for investigating neural plasticity beyond acute-resistance training. We use cross-sectional work to highlight neural plasticity that occurs with chronic-resistance training at sites from the brain to spinal cord. Specifically, intra-cortical circuitry and the spinal motoneuron seem to be key sites for this plasticity. We then urge the need to further investigate the differential effects of acute versus chronic-resistance training on neural plasticity, and the role of this plasticity in increased strength. Such investigations may help in providing a clearer definition of the continuum of acute and chronic-resistance training, how the nervous system is altered during this continuum and the causative role of neural plasticity in changes in strength over the continuum of resistance training.

由于神经可塑性和肌肉肥大的结合，阻力训练可以增强肌肉力量。已有充分证明，阻力训练（即急性）的前几周力量的增加具有强大的潜在神经成分，长期（即慢性）阻力训练的力量进一步增强是由于肌肉肥大。出于显而易见的原因，收集关于慢性阻力训练如何影响神经系统的长期数据是不可行的。因此，慢性阻力训练对神经可塑性的影响知之甚少，也没有得到系统的探索。因此，本综述的目的是为研究超出急性阻力训练的神经可塑性提供理论依据。我们使用横断面研究来强调从大脑到脊髓部位的慢性阻力训练中发生的神经可塑性。具体来说，皮质内回路和脊髓运动神经元似乎是这种可塑性的关键部位。然后，我们敦促需要进一步研究急性和慢性阻力训练对神经可塑性的不同影响，以及这种可塑性在增加力量方面的作用。此类调查可能有助于更清晰地定义急性和慢性阻力训练的连续体，在此连续体中神经系统如何改变，以及神经可塑性在阻力训练连续体中的力量变化中的因果作用。皮质内回路和脊髓运动神经元似乎是这种可塑性的关键部位。然后，我们敦促需要进一步研究急性和慢性阻力训练对神经可塑性的不同影响，以及这种可塑性在增加力量方面的作用。此类调查可能有助于更清晰地定义急性和慢性阻力训练的连续体，在此连续体中神经系统如何改变，以及神经可塑性在阻力训练连续体中的力量变化中的因果作用。皮质内回路和脊髓运动神经元似乎是这种可塑性的关键部位。然后，我们敦促需要进一步研究急性和慢性阻力训练对神经可塑性的不同影响，以及这种可塑性在增加力量方面的作用。此类调查可能有助于更清晰地定义急性和慢性阻力训练的连续体，在此连续体中神经系统如何改变，以及神经可塑性在阻力训练连续体中的力量变化中的因果作用。