Did you know you can gain muscle strength without lifting weights? Sounds crazy doesn’t it?

Dr Guang Yue, an exercise physiologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, created a study based on 10 volunteers between ages 20-35. They were asked to imagine flexing their bicep muscles as hard as they could 5 times a week. They did not actually physically flex them. Electrical activity was measured at the brain and arm to ensure it was strictly mental.

At the conclusion of the study, there was a 13.5% increase in strength! Controls had no change in strength. This study was an extension of a previous study on the little finger, which also showed improved strength. Dr Guang Yue theorizes, that sending larger signals to the motor neurons increases muscle strength.

This shows to me also, that your daily strength levels is very dependant on your mental state. Strength gains is important for bodybuilders, as it leads to more muscle gains long term. The mind is a powerful thing, how you think can be helpful or detrimental in everything you do in life. This is why I believe drugs and Alcohol(which is a drug too) should be avoided because long term it will hurt your mental state, and hence your health and bodybuilding gains.