Do you need help developing body awareness and mind-muscle connection? The phrase “muscle memory” might make you think every muscle has a little brain that helps you exercise. That is not the case…But recall and automation play a huge part in how muscle memory works.

 

What is Muscle Memory?

When a movement is repeated over time, neurological motor engrams are stored in the brain for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed with little to no conscious effort. For example, if you’ve ever taken years off from riding a bike, you may be surprised that after just a few wobbly moments, you’re riding as if you never took time off. Your brain remembers how to ride the bike, and you remain upright! Much of what you do requires “neural facilitation” of the muscles to achieve it.

 

Strength training enhances communication between the nervous system and the muscles themselves. Many of the adaptations made in the early weeks of resistance training are predominantly neural, this is why you get a huge strength gain in the first few months of starting training. Your muscle memory/neural communication is developing.

 

The Mind Muscle Connection

The mind-muscle connection refers to your ability to focus your attention on the contraction of a specific muscle or muscle groups during exercise. This practice involves mentally engaging with the working muscle/s, aiming to isolate and enhance their activation without relying solely on the movement’s mechanical execution. This is important as sometimes our movement patterns have faulty neural recruitment which commonly leads to pain so learning how to engage the right muscles can be paramount.  Repeating specific movements also optimises communication between the brain and muscles, establishing neural pathways which help us perfect movement.

 

By focusing in on our muscle function we can potentially achieve more significant neural development, can improve movement patterns and perfect exercise technique. If the mind-muscle connection sounds foreign to you, there may be a disconnect between your exercises, muscle feedback and how you perform the exercise.

 

It is important that when training you develop this mind muscle connection to ensure your body is working optimally and the muscles you “fire” are working as a Team at the right ratios with the rest of the “players”.

 

At FORM Fitness we work on improving these connections with your brain and muscles so you have greater neurological input and body awareness around what muscles you should be working with each movement. Then the body is able to achieve tasks with less effort and a lower injury risk.

 

 

Review:

I have trained with Janelle (owner) for 15 years and I can honestly say she is incredible.
She has that perfect balance of highly supportive yet will not take an ounce of an excuse. Believe me, I have tried them all! Janelle’s body science knowledge has repaired my body every year after some long and tough training seasons cycling. When Janelle’s away we sub in the other trainers and they are awesome (also not bending to my excuses). Knowledge, support, and challenge will be found at Form Fitness as well as great people who build strong relationships to see you succeed.

KF

 

The team at FORM FITNESS can help you TRAIN SMARTER – contact us