The Reversibility Principle Applied to Sport Skills

My own experience taught me how the reversibility principle applied to my throwing skills after a 20-year break from training.

Detraining means your muscles reverse the effects of training that they gained when you were worked out. When it comes to motor skills, however, the learning factor plays into the picture, particular for continuous skills. See The Principle of Reversibility

Here is what I experienced when I began to compete in the throwing events in track and field after not training for more than 20 years.

Initially, I noticed a lack of flexibility and strength that limited my ability to move through the necessary ranges of motion to achieve some level of coordination to throw the shot put and discus. However, I had a good sense of how to execute the movements.

By the fourth workout session, coordination increased quite a bit. I was able to execute reasonably sound technique in the shot put and discus in lead up movements. Immediately, I had felt well coordinated in the javelin and softball throw, the lighter implements. Perhaps this was due to having played softball occasionally over the years.

I found that I faced the same errors I experienced during initial learning many years ago, but I was able to improve much more quickly. I believe that my body awareness had improved, and this helped in making corrections quickly.

My experience is that the programming (brain's motor memory) for efficient execution remained intact, but my tools declined. While I remembered how to execute the movements, my lack of strength and a relatively high percentage of body fat (dead weight, compared to 20 years prior) are the main limitations to improving throwing distance.

My impression is that other former athletes have similar experiences. Consistent with the research in exercise physiology and motor learning, for me the reversibility principle applied to skilled performances means that you lose the training effect within the muscles, but you remember the skills you've learned--even as a senior. See Senior Physical Fitness

To learn about how my performances improved after I was introduced to new training techniques from the former Soviet Union, see Training Principles Applied.

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