Yes, this is effected/affected through receptors and motor neurons, and depending on where they are, (Golgi tendon organs in the tendons for example) the results are similar as per your question...
"Muscle memory" is the terminology used by muscle physiologists to describe the phenomenon of skeletal muscle activity that is learned and becomes essentially automatic with practice. For example, walking is automatic and takes no real cognitive effort for healthy adults but is initially learned and takes great concentration on the part of a toddler. With constant practice, the neural networks and motor neuron/muscle group pathways become fast and effortless, requiring no conscious thought to achieve the fluid sequence of motor activity that produces optimal walking behavior. Indeed, we rarely actually "think" about walking, and thinking about it might actually slow down walking or interrupt the coordination of the walking pattern. However, if an individual becomes ill and is bedridden for any length of time, walking must be relearned. This same phenomenon of learning and "memorizing" sequences of skeletal muscle activities or behaviors occurs for various tasks besides walking and is much of what athletes are doing when they are training for a particular sport.
The cellular mechanism responsible for this memory is not completely understood. Clearly, the biochemistry of synapses (chemical messages) between the motor nerves and muscle cells is up-regulated when used repeatedly. However, exactly how this occurs is under investigation. In addition, the synaptic transmission is just one component of a complex series of events involved in motor function.
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