Today, we are going to talk about muscle memory, its importance, the role it plays in strength training regimens, and finally, how to improve it measurably over time. Muscle memory also plays a significant role in retention and moreover regaining off muscle mass after a period of sedentary stagnation, i.e. muscle loss. But what is muscle memory?
Muscle memory, in simple terms, is the body’s ability to retain information from its previous movements and adapt to repetitive actions over time. Essentially, this means that the more a person performs a particular movement, the more efficient their muscles become at executing it. This applies to many different activities, like playing sports, typing, dancing; as you might guess, it also applies to your daily or weekly workouts.
Whenever you’re working out, improved muscle memory allows you to perform routines more precisely and efficiently. And as your muscles become more used to certain movements, you’ll eventually see improvements in your technique as well. This development is sure to accelerate your progress towards your fitness goals.
A developed muscle memory also reduces the risk of injuries while working out. Since muscle memory helps ingrain correct movement patterns, there’s less chance of faulty mechanics leading to strains, sprains, or other workout-related injuries. Of course, you’ll want to do other things to safeguard your body from injuries during your workout routine, like wearing workout-appropriate plus size leggings, tops, and shoes; or exert yourself within the boundaries of your current capabilities.
How to improve muscle memory over time
Given the benefits of this biological process for workouts, it’s worth it to harness this principle and apply it to your own regimen. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting a daily workout routine, here are some concrete ways to strengthen your muscle memory:
Be consistent
One of the best ways to strengthen your muscle memory for workouts is to consistently perform the same exercises. This allows your muscles to adapt and become more proficient at executing specific movements.
Having said that, make sure to have regular workout sessions. It’s also better to progressively increase the intensity or volume of the same reps over time. Doing this challenges your muscles and stimulates further adaptation. We incorporated this same technique when designing Fitness Updated, our bodyweight workout program.
Focus on proper technique
Another strategy to maximize muscle memory for your training is to prioritize quality over quantity. This means using the proper form and technique in every routine. This will reinforce correct movement patterns and contribute to effective muscle memory development.
Instead of aiming to do plenty of sets, focus on controlled movements. Remember to maintain alignment and engage the targeted muscles throughout each repetition, too.
Variety and challenges improve muscle memory
While consistency is important, introducing variety and challenges into your workouts can further stimulate muscle adaptation and memory formation. Try incorporating different exercises, variations, and training modalities every once in a while. In particular, choose routines that will target your muscles from various angles. This will help stimulate growth.
There are also many cross-training activities you can turn to in order to complement your primary workouts. This approach won’t just help promote overall muscle development, but also reduce the risk of muscle overuse injuries. When I was designing what later become Fitness Updated, I made sure to incorporate a spectrum of exercises that hit every part of the large muscle groups, especially the pectorals, abdominal muscles, and glutes.
If you want to challenge yourself and strengthen your muscle memory, work out in different environments or use other pieces of equipment. This kind of variation in your routine can put a new type of stress on your muscles and mind. When this happens, the stress will trigger your muscle cells to grow, and you will become stronger.
Muscle memory through visualization
You should also aim to develop a strong mind-muscle connection to optimize your muscle memory when you’re working out. When you’re more aware of your movements, you encourage a deeper connection between your brain and muscles. This helps reinforce the neural pathways and prepares your muscles for optimal performance during the actual workout.
You can do this through visualization. Take a few moments before each workout to visualize yourself completing each exercise in perfect form and achieving your fitness goals. Then, as you’re doing the exercises, concentrate on the sensations within your muscles as you perform each movement. Envision the muscle fibers contracting and lengthening with each repetition.
This can be especially hard when doing complex bodyweight moves, but repetition can help you achieve enough familiarity, to then be able to vividly go over the motions in your head. I remember when filming Fitness Updated, I could perform the entire workout session in my head before the cameras started rolling.
Try incorporating vivid imagery, including sights, sounds, and sensations. This will make the visualization experience as realistic as possible and, as a result, easier to achieve.
Rest and recovery help muscle memory
What you do after every workout can affect how your muscle memory improves, too. For example, allowing your muscles sufficient time to rest and recover facilitates muscle repair and growth.
Remember to include rest days in your training schedule. Also be sure to get quality sleep as regularly as possible to optimize your recovery.
Maintain a balanced diet
Between your workouts, make sure you’re taking care of your body by eating a balanced diet. Ensure that your meals consist of foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and essential nutrients to support muscle recovery and growth. Adequate nutrition will replenish your energy for workouts, repair muscle tissue, and accelerate muscle memory development.
Listen to your body
Lastly, while you may want to clear your fitness goals as soon as possible, remember to pay attention to signals from your body as well. Overtraining can be highly unproductive, as it hinders muscle recovery and impedes muscle memory formation.
If you feel any fatigue, soreness, or discomfort, go ahead and adjust your workouts accordingly. This may mean reducing your training time or repetitions. At times, it may even mean skipping a day of working out and opting to rest instead. Once you feel better, you can resume your workout habit.
To unlock the full potential of what your muscles can do, consider these strategies to develop your muscle memory. Many of these methods involve physical demands, but don’t forget that improved muscle memory also requires discipline, recovery, and a mindset geared toward success and self-improvement.