Planned Overreaching May Bring You To The Next Level
Factors that influence increased muscle size and strength include muscle tension, time under tension, calories, key amino acids, genetics and rest. Most sports training and nutritional programs have been developed through trial and error, because the process is complex and individual. Programs appropriate for weightlifters or discus throwers are inappropriate for bodybuilders (and vice versa). However, certain basic principles apply to the training programs of all athletes.
An interesting article by Emidio Pistilli and colleagues from the Department of Physiology at the
Overreaching is a short-term increase in training volume and intensity, while overtraining is a more long-term condition characterized by chronic exhaustion and decreased performance. They argued that increasing the volume and intensity of workouts for a week (no more than three weeks), followed by a period of reduced training intensity, might produce a rebound increase in strength and performance. This is an interesting concept. The important components are large increases in training volume and intensity for short periods, followed by normal or moderateintensity workouts. This concept is as much art as science, and its effectiveness will vary with the experience and adaptability of the athlete. (Strength and Conditioning Journal, 30 (6): 39-44, 2008)
