Weston concludes that “while your muscles themselves don’t actually ‘remember’ things, they’re full of neurons attached to your nervous system that do.” As easy as it would be to sit back and rely on our muscle memory to see us through times of fatigue or plateau, Weston is quick to point out that like all good things, you’ve got to put the work in first.

The mere thought of picking up a dumbbell or slipping on those trainers can feel like a mammoth undertaking after an exercise hiatus, but Weston assures us that getting back into the swing of things will be easier than you think. The only snag is that there’s a window of time in which to resume training; once that’s past, things get infinitely more difficult.

“When you start working out again after a period of rest or inactivity, the brain remembers the connections between neurons and the motor cortex and the muscles acclimatise quicker to the workout. They’ll build in strength and size faster and more easily than they would have done if you had never worked out before,” she explains.

While there’s no definitive answer as to how long we can stop exercising for before muscle memory begins to fade, Weston says that she’s read it can last for up to 15 years, while others claim it lasts a matter of months. Perhaps it really just depends on how fit and experienced you were before the break.

Muscle memory: why PTs make you do the same strength movements on repeat