Sharples · American journal of physiology. Cell physiology 2023 · narrative review · n=?

Skeletal muscle memory.

Cited 53 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Narrative review without systematic search or meta-analysis

PubMed 37154489 · doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00099.2023 · record verified 2026-08-26

What was done

This narrative review summarizes recent literature on the biological mechanisms of skeletal muscle memory. It examines cellular and epigenetic mechanisms, their potential synergy, positive and negative muscle memory concepts, and applications to training design and therapeutic strategies for age-related muscle loss or muscle-wasting conditions.

What was found

The abstract provides no empirical numbers or quantitative effect sizes. It qualitatively describes that prior exercise training can prime skeletal muscle to improve adaptation during subsequent retraining following periods of detraining or exercise cessation.

Why it matters

Elucidating muscle memory mechanisms helps explain long-term adaptations to exercise and identifies potential targets for treating sarcopenia and clinical muscle wasting.

Limits

This is a narrative review with no systematic search methodology, quality appraisal, or meta-analytic data synthesis. The abstract contains no primary data, participant numbers, or quantitative outcomes.

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