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Thinking about getting stronger?

January 2, 2015 by Paul

Thinking about getting stronger?

Then you’re already on the way.

Take two groups of people and immobilise one of their limbs with a cast. Have one group think about performing movement with the immobilised limb and the other do nothing.

At 11 weeks remove the casts from both groups and what do you find?

Those that had been merely thinking about movement had muscles that were twice as strong as those that had been doing nothing.

This is not a new concept.

Previous studies in this area have shown that subjects increased finger muscle strength by 35% just thinking about the required movement.

While subjects who actually performed the movement improved their strength by 53% compared to a control group.

It could be said therefore that the neurological aspect provides the bigger percentage of the gains elicited from strength training.

A powerful argument for staying conscious and present during your training or rehabilitation.

Filed Under: Cool stuff, Rehabilitation, Training

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  • Why building resilience with resistance training will improve your golf  May 21, 2025
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