130121 Part one-The physiological responses to different intensity training loads

Preface to the article

Due to the Covid-19 virus, I was offered the opportunity to take a leave of absence from my school district which is in a hybrid learning situation. Based on many factors, including the most important, that of taking care of our grandchildren while their Dad and my wife are working, I took the leave of absence from my school district.

I am hopeful that come next September and with the vaccine being available I will be back in the weight room with my great students.

The following was previously published in the Washington State Coaches Magazine.

130121 Part one-The physiological responses to different intensity training loads

Performing any movement with high intensity or maximum effort requires a strong excitation-inhibitory response from within the brain center and consequently into the joints and surrounding muscles that execute the motion.

Other parts of the brain respond to signals that excite the inhibitory processes thus allowing more effort to be put into the movement. Weak signals to the brain cause weak responses within the total neuromuscular system. Additionally, weak inputs are a distraction to the athlete and their ability to concentrate on the task is diminished accordingly.

In practice, using weak to moderate intensity training loads at the beginning of acquiring a motor skill has a negative effect on reproducing skills that previously were learned while working with maximum effort. In the cases of an experienced athlete, using these loads makes it difficult if not impossible for them to reproduce their normal correct technique when using a heavier load in competition.

On the other side of the coin, i.e. those who used training loads of 95-100% 1RM were not able to perform with correct technique when using the lower intensity loads in practice.

In both instances, in the performance of partial and full movements, the sequence will be uncoordinated during the execution of the motion and consequently the rhythm of the movement will be off as well.