17/10/2025
We’ve known this since early 1990s, yet it’s still often ridiculed. While, visualisation and mental training are scientifically proven methods to enhance muscle strength, we are still not using this clinically! 🧠💪
What are you visualizing? Because it matters! If you are visualising weakness, aging, poor coordination that’s what your brain rehearses! Your neural pathways dictate how you control your body. The brain’s wiring influences strength, coordination, and performance.
Research shows that mental imagery can significantly increase muscle strength:
📑 A 1992 study by Yue & Cole demonstrated a 16% strength gain in untrained legs through mental practice, highlighting cross-education effects.
📑 A 2004 study by Ranganathan et al. found a 35% increase in finger strength after just 12 weeks of mental training.
📑 Clark et al. (2014) showed mental imagery reduced strength loss by 50% during immobilization.
Meta-analyses reinforce these findings:
📑 Slimani et al. (2016) confirmed combining mental and physical practice yields greater gains.
📑 Simonsmeier et al. (2025) found mental imagery improves athletic performance, especially in strength and agility, with just 10 minutes of practice thrice weekly.
Your brain’s neural pathways are directly connected to muscle use. Keep telling yourself you’re weak, and you’ll become weaker. Visualize lifting heavy and moving flawlessly—that can become your reality.