Muscle Memory What's That?

When we are born our body starts remembering what muscle tissue is supposed to feel like. As we go through life and get bumps and bruises along the way our muscle memory changes. Hopefully, upon healing our muscle memory returns to normal.

Let me give an example. I'll be working with a client and discover a knot in the calf muscle. I'll ask if there is any tenderness. The response is no. What has happened is the muscle has accepted that knot as normal and turned off the pain sensors. Now because the muscle has accepted this as normal it will take longer to change. When work begins to make a change and return the muscle to the "real normal", the muscle might start feeling that tenderness again because an outside source is trying to bring about change.

The best solution is to address injury as soon as possible after it occurs. Begin the healing process and get the muscle smooth and healthy to avoid "bad" muscle memory. When changing muscle memory back to normal you have to stay after it. If you don't, the body will hold on to the "bad memory" because it will accept it as normal. Staying after it means massage and stretching. It will eventually return to the "real normal". Keep your muscles lean and healthy by stretching everyday and staying hydrated. Water is what we use to lubricate our muscles and they love lots of it.

Stay well and hydrate.