Muscle memory

Muscle memory is the ability of our mind to learn new movements, concepts, patterns, creating new neural pathways for each of them, modifying the brain. The learning process occurs through "damage", the neurons "break" their DNA to activate the transcription of the genes necessary for the process of creating new memories. The damage is later repaired and the memories fixed. (Ram Madabhushi et al., 2015).. The development of science and our entire civilization is due to the relationship between the observation of others and their imitation. It is the primary way we develop and use our procedural memory. In sports it is an extremely useful mechanism, especially in sports like padel where you are at a disadvantage if you are forced to think before moving. When you learn a new movement, many neurons are recalled from the primary cortex, allowing improvements even in just one workout but this is the fast phase of acquisition, if not strengthened, it is lost immediately. By reinforcing with further repetitions, we enter the slow learning phase called "consolidation". In this phase the skill is mastered and fixed in memory. In order to form connections that last over time, the brain needs (approximately) 3 weeks of practice for 3-4 days with 45-90 minute training sessions. This is the minimum frequency to ensure that the neurochemical process does not get ruined. In fact, brain chemistry is constantly being built and demolished and it only takes a few days of lack of practice to lose what you have acquired in just one workout. Our brain cannot distinguish between a wrong movement and a right one, repeating a wrong movement so many times will create a permanent incorrect automatism. However, the gesture can still be improved, with many difficulties, by creating new circuits and repeating them until they become favorites. Obviously, compared to starting from scratch, it will require an enormous effort, because again due to the concept of "memory", the wrong circuit learned will interfere with the new correct one. This is why training in the correct way, with the right tools and followed by professionals is the best way to maximize our efforts and improve our playing technique.