What does the term "muscle memory" refer to?

The term "muscle memory" primarily refers to the process through which the body retains information regarding motor skills and movements after repeated practice. When an individual practices certain physical activities or exercises consistently, the neural pathways in the brain strengthen and facilitate improved coordination and efficiency in those movements. This allows a person to perform those tasks with greater ease and less conscious effort over time.

Muscle memory is not specifically about increasing the size of the muscles, which focuses more on hypertrophy and muscle development, nor is it related to the tendency to forget exercises, which contrasts with the very nature of muscle memory itself. Additionally, muscle memory does not pertain to techniques for rapid weight gain, as the term does not convey concepts related to weight or body composition changes. Instead, it highlights how physical skills become more automatic and ingrained through consistent training and repetition.