Muscle Memory

[Scrap]

There is none Your thoughts.

[jonoevansla]

There is none Your thoughts.

I've lifted weights since I was about 13, and got pretty serious in my late teens early 20s (I'm 39 now), and managed to get my lifts up to a respectable weight. I had a back injury, and did no training for about 5 years (apart from a couple of attempts to get back in the gym, which failed due to ongoing back issues). When I did start back properly, I was able to get my lifts back up to a similar weight fairly quickly. I always put this down to muscle memory.

Similarly, now I'm a bit older I don't lift as heavy as I used to and consequently can't lift those types of weights anymore. However, I'm confident that if I changed my training routine I would be able to get up to those weights again fairly quickly. Again, I would have put this down to muscle memory.

What are your thoughts?

[Scrap]

Its memory, but not from the Muscle, its from the Brain.

[jonoevansla]

Its memory, but not from the Muscle, its from the Brain.

If it was purely from the brain, then with self belief I should be able to lift those weights immediately and not need to build up to them?

[Scrap]

Yes, as long as the Neural pathways are up to it D

[Scrap]

Yes, as long as the Neural pathways are up to it D

[Andypittcov]

Its memory, but not from the Muscle, its from the Brain.

Exactamundo

[jonoevansla]

I have numerous recollections of failing to lift a weight which I was convinced I could handle . Getting pinned to the bench under a heavy barbell is a pretty good incentive to lift it - my brain is often too willing, but my muscles have let me down!

[Scrap]

No, your Nueromuscular pathways did

[jonoevansla]

No, your Nueromuscular pathways did

I knew you would say that

[Scrap]

Working with M/S, and C/P, people the last couple of years. Puts a new slant on things. D

[jonoevansla]

Interesting. Please explain.

[Scrap]

Simply, by using a different piece of kit, people who couldnt walk, could. By altering the nuero pathways which enabled the messages to get through to the muscles and Tendons.

[Deserter]

It's at times like this I love this forum

[Scrap]

Now Ive been playing Devils Advocate, simply I think theres something else. Probably wrong, In the East, they have a different, slightly, take on it. I find the Tests on Meditation at Harvard interesting, finally we have equipment that can measure whats happening. I cant wait to see whats next. D

[jonoevansla]

Fascinating stuff! Plenty of food for thought.

[Scrap]

But not from the Muscle DD

[physio]

A already stated there is no such thing as muscle memory but the brain plays a primary role. Advances in MRI rechnology have helped us map areas of the brain that are not only responsible for movement but for specific body parts such as fingers, lips etc (see somatosensory humunculus). This is found in the primary somatosensory cortex (movement area). This network of nerves is extremely adaptable, i.e the more you move something the greater representation that body part will have in the brain. For example, a boxer will have a greater reprentation of nerve activity in his brain for his arms than say, a footballer. If you stop using something i.e with injury that representation in the brain will decrease (within hours!) and your motor control will subsequently change. These principals are used extensively in rehabilitation.

Interesting topic.

[Scrap]

With the Heart being the Highway to everything.