Strength and Conditioning Knowledge Center

Differences between planning, periodization and scheduling   There are three terms that are often confused when we want to capture in a calendar the objectives of the training and the sessions that we are going to carry out to achieve it. Planning, periodization, and scheduling are often interchanged, but each term refers to different functions …

When we plan a season we put on the calendar the moments where we will need to be fresher to compete, so training sessions should not be a great stress. Based on this, we periodize an alternation of training blocks that will have a greater impact with others that will help us recover. The discharge …

Cluster method: what it consists of The traditional method for strength training consists of performing a certain number of repetitions, followed by ample rest until a new series is performed. The cluster is a strength training methodology that introduces breaks within the same series.  This technique introduces more shorter breaks within the same series,  instead …

Velocity Based Training can help you do a lot of great things in the gym to enhance your performance. However, there are probably some other things that you do not want to do. For example, VBT is not about getting fancy and making things complicated. There are some other things as well, which we are …

Strength training is a basic pillar to gain muscle mass, but we need is a second basic pillar for such muscle growth to occur. A properly designed diet will allow you to gain muscle mass, accumulating as little fat as possible. In this diet it is necessary to control the calories ingested, as well as …

What is hydrate loading?   Carbohydrates are the main source of energy during physical exercise, especially if it is of a certain intensity (Cermak & Van Loon, 2013). These carbohydrates are stored in our body in the form of glycogen (Adeva-Andany, González-Lucán, Donapetry-García, Fernández-Fernández, & Ameneiros-Rodríguez, 2016). The main glycogen stores are the liver (approximately …

High school athletes usually have a reduced ability to perform well in the field due to underdeveloped physiques, younger numerical and training age, and various other external factors. They also have to deal with daily challenges, including academic stress, family stress, travel stress, and even nutritional stress. For all these reasons, lifting is just a …

Lactate threshold refers to a person’s ability to perform aerobic exercises the fastest they can before the fatigue kicks in. Exercises performed close to this threshold lead to a sudden rise in blood lactate levels. Blood lactate is usually 1-2 mmol/L when you rest or perform low-intensity training. However, it rises to over 20mmol/L when …

Running is rarely approached the same way as strength training. It is often taken as unplanned jogs around the block, followed by sprints. But in actuality, running workouts that are targeted towards your specific fitness goals – for example, improving your sprint speed, getting fitter, or training for a marathon – make a big difference. …

Are you a soccer player who wants to juke your competition? Or a basketball player who wants to fly by their opponents, leaving them wondering what to do? Perhaps your athletic success in these situations is always going to depend on how well you change your direction. Therefore, the only way to master this art …

Sports and athletic performance often overlook the importance of reaction time. It refers to the time it takes for your peripheral and central nervous systems to receive, process, and respond to a stimulus. It can be a visual signal (seeing), an auditory signal (hearing), or a kinesthetic signal (touching). When you hear a gun firing, …

The importance of stretching cannot be overstated when it comes to any workout routine. Regardless of the type of physical activity, you engage in, stretching your muscles before and after can improve your performance and prevent injury. But what is the right way to stretch? The most basic form of stretching is bending and flexing …