Earlier in the year, I posted about mind muscle control. While it sounds like something from a science fiction movie, mind muscle control is really pretty simple:
Mind-muscle control refers to the feeling of connection between your mind and the muscles that are being worked.
While some of us have a tendency to let our minds wander elsewhere during exercise, turning your attention inward to the muscle being worked can actually result in a more effective workout. But you don’t have to take my word for it.
A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research concluded that thinking about a muscle during exercise makes that muscle work 22% harder.
Why? There are probably a number of reasons. When you’re being mindful about an exercise, you may be less likely to rush through it - or to cheat during a repetition. You might be more likely to maintain proper form and less likely to engage other muscles to help out.
Regardless of the reasoning, the takeaway is clear: Keep your head in the game. Make paying attention to your muscles part of your exercise practice.
About Davey Wavey
Hey Davey!
I’ve noticed that after my strength training workouts (upper body), I’m becoming extremely sore and so weak that I can barely push myself up from a sitting position. I try to consume a fair amount of protein to help repair torn muscles and regain strength; I also take aspirin and ice my arms, but nothing seems to be working. I want to start strength training regularly and do this at least twice a week, but I can’t do that if it takes me four days at a time to feel fully energized again. I need some advice! What should I do? Is there some trick to help regain strength and repair muscles quickly?
- Audrey
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