What is Muscle Memory?

How does Muscle Memory work? - Let's separate the facts from fiction.

Have world changing events curtailed your fitness routine? Isolation, leading to more food and less movement? Perhaps, you’ve become comfortable in a new schedule where pajamas are the daily dress code and your just too tired to workout- hmmm? If you think, “this is it”, or “I’ll never get back into those jeans”, or “I’m too old for this”- you’d be wrong! There’s a high possibility that you have forgotten about the jumps in gym class when you were in 8th grade, but maybe your muscles haven’t.

For the last couple of years science has been fascinated with the idea of how the memory of the muscles can benefit our lives long after we’ve actually worked on it. This actually means that training your muscles now could help preserve themselves in the future.

What is ‘building your muscle’?

Muscles are incredibly plastic cells that can grow or shrink, depending on how we treat them.

Muscles grow depending on the exercise and food ratio we give them. If there is a balance between a calculated dietary regimen and a well prepared work-out then the muscles will have the perfect conditions to flourish.

On the other hand, malnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle can make the muscles shrink, which is called atrophy. But the thing that is actually building the muscle is a thing called the “nucleus”. Single cells contain only one nucleus. As the muscle grown It needs to be sustained by more than one nucleus. So It gathers more from the cells surrounding it. Just as nuclei gather when the muscle grows, the same way it dies when the muscle shrinks.

How does muscle memory work?

There are a lot of researchers that are affiliated with muscle memory and they all come to the same conclusion - If you’ve done it before, you’ll do it again. The memory of the muscle, same as the bone structure, starts being built in the early stages of life. Doctors and physiotherapists agree that the younger you start training your muscles, the longer they will be efficient.

Another thing they agree on is that If a person was ever actively exercising at any stage of their life, before turning 35, then It wouldn’t matter how many years have gone - the muscle will remember. Studies have shown that If a person trained in their life they could restore their former body state even after muscle atrophy.

What is “sarcopenia” and what to do!

Sarcopenia is muscle atrophy related to aging. Other possible culprits for it are strokes, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other health problems. There are practical steps towards fighting back sarcopenia and plain old muscle loss and It is even possible for the ones who haven’t trained the muscles beforehand.

It doesn't matter if you’re If you‘re an out-of-shape middle aged man or woman, or a mountain climber - day to day activity can modify the condition of your muscles. If you’ve missed the last train for building muscle mass as a kid, then start doing it now, but slowly, there’s no rush. Flex Express is a 30 minute strength training class that is excellent for beginners and athletes alike. Try classes like these to learn proper setups, sets and form. Remember to create a suitable regimen and a nutritious food chart for yourself. If you’re not sure how, check out Noga Movement for tips.

Don’t rush to get fast results, because you will not. Your muscles haven’t got the slightest idea that you want them to grow, so let them learn one step at a time. Moving fast doesn’t mean it will get you there faster. There are people who will help support your journey. Try joining and online community like this one.

Most of all, believe in yourself and move with confidence. Your muscles may not be ready for it now, but they have the potential to get you where you want to be. Believe in yourself, as well as believe in them.

Once you’ve banked those extra nuclei they will help you sustain that muscle memory for the years to come. This doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be hard, so you have to be ready to it. Ready to awaken your muscle memory? Comment below.