The effects of bilateral functional overload on enzyme changes in fast-twitch plantaris muscles were studied on different groups of rats: 1) normal-control; 2) normal-exercise; 3) overload-control; and 4) overload-exercise. Overload was accomplished by surgical elimination of synergists. Exercising groups walked up a 65% grade, 3 m/min, 2 h/day. Peak muscle enlargement of the overload groups was reached after 5 wk. Citrate synthase, phosphofructokinase, and myofibril ATPase activities were consistantly depressed by approximately 30%, 40%, and 18%, respectively, in overload as compared to normal groups. Daily exercise prevented the decrease in only citrate synthase activity. Unilateral overload of medial gastrocnemius muscle indicated that both fast-twitch oxidative-glycogenolytic and fast-twitch glycogenolytic fiber types undergo enzyme changes in response to the functional stress. However, changes in the former were in closer agreement with the net changes seen in the plantaris than the latter. Soleus muscle responded to overload primarily with marked reductions in respiratory capacity. These findings suggest that certain enzyme systems are altered with functional overload in different fiber types. However, the alterations in certain enzyme systems may, in part, be independent of the process of hypertrophy.