From Derek Ball, Manchester Metropolitan University
You report that “imagining yourself exercising can increase the strength of
even your large muscles”
(24 November, p 17).
The “crossover” effect of training
has been known for some considerable time. If you strength-train one limb, there
will be a measurable change in the other limb even though this has not had any
training stimuli. An adaptation in the other limb takes place that stems from
within the neuromuscular system rather than any change in muscle size.
This is, I presume, similar to the phenomenon reported by the Cleveland
Clinic Foundation.
