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Area Commander
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Northeast Utah
Posts: 1,712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wet dog
I continually see "Muscle Memory" creep into dialogue regarding motion and conditioning, just not here but other threads as well.
While many know Anatomy is to form and Physiology is to function, I'm of the impression that there is no memory cells is muscle. I think that a muscle can be conditioned to best function in a proper position, like throwing a major league ball 100MPH, Michael Jordan at the free-throw line, and Team Sergeant shooting the "second bullet" in the same hole as the first, (and maybe a few others like him), but really, "Muscle Memory"?
Memory is a function of brain activity. It is the brain that tells the body what to do. It is not the muscle telling the brain, "you are in the right position, so let me throw, if you don't let go, I will miss, time is running out, time, time, time, ok., you we were late, let's try again. I'm in the right position, can I go now, please?"
"Muscle Memory" is one of the many things left over from the 80's training regimes.
Doc(s), set the record straight,
Thanks, WD
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The term "muscle memory" is a bit misleading as there is no "memory" in the muscle itself. The information from the muscles, tendons and ligaments about stretch, contraction, position and movement are all relayed to and processed by the brain. Through repetition, a repeated action can take less and less conscious effort although all of the signals are still being processed and controlled by the brain. When someone talks about muscle memory, they mean an action they can perform at will without significant conscious effort. When a movement is learned to this level, altering the movement feels "off" due to subconscious expectations of signals that should be received.
Walking is a wonderful example of "muscle memory" - we all had to learn to walk as toddlers and, after much practice, we don't have to actively focus on which foot to put forward and when, how far to lean forward, how long our stride should be, when to pick up the back foot, etc.
My $.02...anyone else have any other thoughts?
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"The dignity of man is not shattered in a single blow, but slowly softened, bent, and eventually neutered. Men are seldom forced to act, but are constantly restrained from acting. Such power does not destroy outright, but prevents genuine existence. It does not tyrannize immediately, but it dampens, weakens, and ultimately suffocates, until the entire population is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid, uninspired animals, of which the government is shepherd." - Alexis de Tocqueville
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