What IS muscle memory?

[Giggle]

Hi all -
I've tried to search through the threads, to google it, and to look on YouTube - but no luck.

There's plenty of advice about short term applications like riding a bike, or taking a week off of training - but what I'm trying to understand is about after a layoff.
Why is it easier to gain strength (or size, for that matter) and it's quicker than when you did it the first time?
Thanks for thinking about it!

[DexterMorgan]

It is easier and quicker. After loosing almost 30lb, I've gained back most of it in about a month.

[Giggle]

Thanks, Dexter.
And after being less than diligent for a year, I'm back up to flat press with the 40's.
It just doesn't make any sense

[Giggle]

anybody else?

[OzBoi]

I am by no means an expert on the matter, but could it potentially have something to do with the fact that you have already developed the neural pathways, therefore when you start training again quicker adaptations are made allowing you to get back to the point you were before the layoff. At which point you are back where you were before the layoff and would no doubt need to find a way to shock your body again to continue improvement.
OZ

[Giggle]

Thank you Oz - I hadn't thought about the neural pathways. That might be a big part of it.
Thanks for helping me.

I am by no means an expert on the matter, but could it potentially have something to do with the fact that you have already developed the neural pathways, therefore when you start training again quicker adaptations are made allowing you to get back to the point you were before the layoff. At which point you are back where you were before the layoff and would no doubt need to find a way to shock your body again to continue improvement.
OZ

[MR-FQ320]

In my experience and afterthought, i summarise muscle memory to be this: If you have trained and developed some muscle, you will have damaged and repaired the muscle hence it growing, now if you stop training the muscle will not be getting worked so it will decrease in size. Now if you start training again after a long period lets say a year, it will be easy to get those muscles to the size they were before with good diet and training faster than 'normal' because the damage and repair stage has already taken place.

[Giggle]

That's a good thought too, MR FQ. So, you've damaged/repaired many times over the years - and you've grown your muscle cells greater in size, and in number. Do you think they just get smaller? I can't imagine you :losing: them.
Thanks!

In my experience and afterthought, i summarise muscle memory to be this: If you have trained and developed some muscle, you will have damaged and repaired the muscle hence it growing, now if you stop training the muscle will not be getting worked so it will decrease in size. Now if you start training again after a long period lets say a year, it will be easy to get those muscles to the size they were before with good diet and training faster than 'normal' because the damage and repair stage has already taken place.

[Buddyguy]

I think it's real for sure. I went from 175-220 in like 4 months after a really long lay off..natty too

[Giggle]

I think it's real for sure. I went from 175-220 in like 4 months after a really long lay off..natty too

Nice job Buddy. I bet it felt good to get the size back. That's what I'm trying to do too. Just not that much lol.
Thanks

[Java Man]

http://www.learnmuscles.com/MTJSP09_BodyMechanics.pdf

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/fascialstretching.pdf

Muscle Memory II -- Position

http://forums.steroid.com/anabolic-s...-question.html

[Giggle]

http://www.learnmuscles.com/MTJSP09_BodyMechanics.pdf

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/fascialstretching.pdf

Muscle Memory II -- Position

http://forums.steroid.com/anabolic-s...-question.html

JavaMan - you are the man haha. Thanks a bunch. I'll take a look.

[MuscleScience]

I am an expert,

Muscle memory is a function of the learned motor patterns in the brain and spinal cord. Over time with repetition, neural pathways coordinate with each other to produce smooth, controlled, coordinate motor patters. Just like you never really have to relearn to ride a bike, exercises that have been learned stay imprinted in the neural networks of the central nervous system ( brain, spinal cord)

[Giggle]

Thanks - I do need an expert haha.
The bike-riding analogy absolutely makes sense. But probably most of us have come back after a layoff and lost size or strength, but gained it back really fast.
I didn't even quit altogether - just cut way back, and I couldn't squat for s**t!
Now, everything is coming back - in just a few months. Do you think those neural pathways are re-learning, which maybe is faster than learning something new?
Thanks!

Muscle memory is a function of the learned motor patterns in the brain and spinal cord. Over time with repetition, neural pathways coordinate with each other to produce smooth, controlled, coordinate motor patters. Just like you never really have to relearn to ride a bike, exercises that have been learned stay imprinted in the neural networks of the central nervous system ( brain, spinal cord)[/QUOTE]

[MuscleScience]

I'm sure there is some degradation of the fine motor control which probably needs some period of time for "re-learning," for the most part after some repetitions, the body should be able to adapt and pick up much faster than the first time.

Thanks - I do need an expert haha.
The bike-riding analogy absolutely makes sense. But probably most of us have come back after a layoff and lost size or strength, but gained it back really fast.
I didn't even quit altogether - just cut way back, and I couldn't squat for s**t!
Now, everything is coming back - in just a few months. Do you think those neural pathways are re-learning, which maybe is faster than learning something new?
Thanks!

Muscle memory is a function of the learned motor patterns in the brain and spinal cord. Over time with repetition, neural pathways coordinate with each other to produce smooth, controlled, coordinate motor patters. Just like you never really have to relearn to ride a bike, exercises that have been learned stay imprinted in the neural networks of the central nervous system ( brain, spinal cord)

[/QUOTE]

[highpsi]

I have awesome muscle memory, one time after a layoff I went from having trouble with a few reps of 225 to 315 benching for the same in 5-6 weeks and reping 225 20+ times. Now however after a much longer layoff it gets me into trouble, ligaments and tendons do not strengthen as fast as the muscle tissue and I have to be careful not to snap something.