Is muscle memory a myth?

lolakitten · 06-03-2008, 04:26 PM

I'm wondering if there is any scientific truth to the theory of muscle memory. Reason I ask - I compete locally in women's bodybuilding, and had to take the last year & a half off due to a high risk pregnancy, ad have recently started back training with the goal of having my old figure back. Am I starting at square one with this, or will I see results faster because I had the muscle before? Someone commented that "the cells are there.." in regards to the muscle I had lost). Is there any truth to this?

reamade · 06-03-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolakitten

I'm wondering if there is any scientific truth to the theory of muscle memory. Reason I ask - I compete locally in women's bodybuilding, and had to take the last year & a half off due to a high risk pregnancy, ad have recently started back training with the goal of having my old figure back. Am I starting at square one with this, or will I see results faster because I had the muscle before? Someone commented that "the cells are there.." in regards to the muscle I had lost). Is there any truth to this?

Yes!! I had to start over a few years ago due to injury. You can rebuild faster. Maybe it's because you already know what to do, but it does come back faster.

http://reamade.wordpress.com/

MarkVI · 06-03-2008, 06:25 PM

I had an awful virus in october and lost 35 pounds of lbm....I was already 7% at the time.....and I have been able to gain 55 back in 6 months, almost all lean.....muscle memory ftw!

WhySoSerious? · 06-04-2008, 08:49 AM

yeh its true and does exist
but your already perfected knowledge of what works best for u helps too

adam247 · 06-04-2008, 09:36 AM

I think it comes downs to muscle cells being more absorbent and greater ability to store glycogen and fats .....once you have trained making gains are faster if you come back after while off training

jth16 · 06-05-2008, 11:23 AM

Muscle memory is due to the fascia surrounding the muscle being 'pre-stretched'. The fascia is a rubber like tissue that surrounds muscle fibers. It is very much a limiting factor in how much muscle mass one can produce in a given time period. When you stretch or do a motion like dumbbell flyes and you feel that burn thats not actually the muscle but the fascia hurting. The fascia influences the growth of a muscle so much that some people will incorporate movements in their routine specifically for stretching the fascia to allow for more muscle growth. When a muscle undergoes hypertropy the surrounding fascia has to stretch to compensate. If at some point that muscle atrophies the fascia will still remain relatively the same size, so when the muscle begins growing again the fascia is much less of a limiting factor up to a certain size.

-Jordan

mikecart1 · 06-05-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jth16

Muscle memory is due to the fascia surrounding the muscle being 'pre-stretched'. The fascia is a rubber like tissue that surrounds muscle fibers. It is very much a limiting factor in how much muscle mass one can produce in a given time period. When you stretch or do a motion like dumbbell flyes and you feel that burn thats not actually the muscle but the fascia hurting. The fascia influences the growth of a muscle so much that some people will incorporate movements in their routine specifically for stretching the fascia to allow for more muscle growth. When a muscle undergoes hypertropy the surrounding fascia has to stretch to compensate. If at some point that muscle atrophies the fascia will still remain relatively the same size, so when the muscle begins growing again the fascia is much less of a limiting factor up to a certain size.

-Jordan

Good explanation!

Agostage · 06-05-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jth16

Muscle memory is due to the fascia surrounding the muscle being 'pre-stretched'. The fascia is a rubber like tissue that surrounds muscle fibers. It is very much a limiting factor in how much muscle mass one can produce in a given time period. When you stretch or do a motion like dumbbell flyes and you feel that burn thats not actually the muscle but the fascia hurting. The fascia influences the growth of a muscle so much that some people will incorporate movements in their routine specifically for stretching the fascia to allow for more muscle growth. When a muscle undergoes hypertropy the surrounding fascia has to stretch to compensate. If at some point that muscle atrophies the fascia will still remain relatively the same size, so when the muscle begins growing again the fascia is much less of a limiting factor up to a certain size.

-Jordan

Good read, any technical links?

lolakitten · 06-05-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jth16

Muscle memory is due to the fascia surrounding the muscle being 'pre-stretched'. The fascia is a rubber like tissue that surrounds muscle fibers. It is very much a limiting factor in how much muscle mass one can produce in a given time period. When you stretch or do a motion like dumbbell flyes and you feel that burn thats not actually the muscle but the fascia hurting. The fascia influences the growth of a muscle so much that some people will incorporate movements in their routine specifically for stretching the fascia to allow for more muscle growth. When a muscle undergoes hypertropy the surrounding fascia has to stretch to compensate. If at some point that muscle atrophies the fascia will still remain relatively the same size, so when the muscle begins growing again the fascia is much less of a limiting factor up to a certain size.

-Jordan

Wow, thank you

This gives me some hope, lol.

scoobysnacks · 06-06-2008, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam247

I think it comes downs to muscle cells being more absorbent and greater ability to store glycogen and fats .....once you have trained making gains are faster if you come back after while off training

Bingo, the added cells, and all cells for that matter, just shrink when not training, you start training again and eating more good foods, etc....big just like before...muscle memory...

Captain Sagara · 06-06-2008, 05:10 AM

Kevin Levrone the biggest example of it...

scoobysnacks · 06-06-2008, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SickBoy_Cage

Kevin Levrone the biggest example of it...

that and the power of only cycling in season, as he came off when not competing...according to many sources...just quoting what I heard cant verify it.

FitIron · 06-06-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoobysnacks

that and the power of only cycling in season, as he came off when not competing...according to many sources...just quoting what I heard cant verify it.

Hey SS, ive seen you on MD.....how long have you been on here??

welcome btw....

your knowledge will be appreciated..

randynixon74 · 06-06-2008, 12:52 PM

My best friend and workout partner used to talk about 'muscle memory' all the time and thought he was full of it. Having taken several years off and just recently come back, I can say that there IS such a thing as muscle memory and thank goodness for that!!! I was afraid it would take years to get back to where I was lifting before.

will-work4ANDRO · 06-06-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SickBoy_Cage

Kevin Levrone the biggest example of it...

lol...the guy who trains 3 months out of the year and looks amazing

Captain Sagara · 06-07-2008, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will-work4ANDRO

lol...the guy who trains 3 months out of the year and looks amazing

Muscle memory,probably best genetics in bodybuilding ever and reaction to drugs as it was a first cycle because he used to be off for like 8 months...