Muscle Memory – Fact or Fiction? – What is Muscle Memory and How Does it Affect How Your Muscles Respond?

There is a high possibility that you have forgotten about the jump sets 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 developed them.

This means that training your muscles now could help preserve them 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 your calculated dietary regimen and a well-prepared workout regimen, then your 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.

What builds the muscle is a thing called the “nucleus”. Single cells contain only one nucleus. As the muscle grows it needs to be sustained by more than one nucleus. The muscle will gather more from the cells surrounding it.

As the nuclei gather the muscle grows, the same way it dies when the muscle shrinks.

The long-lasting effect

Many researchers that are affiliated with muscle memory have 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 remain efficient. 

Another thing they agree on is that if a person was ever actively exercising at any stage of their life, before turning 35, it wouldn’t matter how many years have gone by – the muscle will remember.

Studies have shown that if a person trained during their lifetime, they could restore their body’s former state, even after muscle atrophy.

What is “sarcopenia” and how do you stop it?

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 against sarcopenia and plain old muscle loss. It is even possible for those who haven’t trained the muscles beforehand. 

It doesn’t matter if you are 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.

Remember to create a suitable regimen and a nutritious meal plan for yourself. If you’re not sure how, you can always ask for tips from a nutritionist, wellness coach, or doctor.

Don’t rush to get quick results, they will not happen. 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. 

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 won’t be hard, be prepared to work for it and celebrate your progress every step of the way!