Tap Into Muscle Memory

Think of the expression “muscle memory,” and there’s a good chance the phenomenon of never forgetting how to ride a bike instantly comes to mind. But there’s more to muscle memory than simply remembering how to perform a certain skill. 

Muscle memory can also refer to the ability of previously trained muscles to build strength and size after an exercise hiatus much quicker than untrained muscles, according to research published in the Journal of Physiology. Of course, muscles don’t have legit memory like the brain does, so the term isn’t universally agreed upon within the research world. However, most experts say it does exist, says Brach Poston, Ph.D., an associate professor who teaches the neurophysiology of movement and strength courses at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

Based on the current research, there isn’t one clear-cut physiological mechanism, but scientists have a few theories as to why previously trained muscles can regain strength and volume fast after deloading, says Poston. Here are the three main hypotheses.