RESISTANCE TRAINING AND ELITE ATHLETES - ADAPTATIONS AND PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS

The skepticism surrounding the potential benefits of resistance exerci se training prevalent just decades ago has evolved over the years to a n understanding of the integral nature muscular overload plays in the training programs for athletes. The science of training elite athletes is progressing rapidly, as insights into the physiological adaptation s resulting from varying program configurations become available. Resi stance training impacts several body systems, including muscular, endo crine, skeletal, metabolic, immune, neural, and respiratory. An unders tanding and appreciation of basic scientific principles related to res istance training is necessary in order to optimize training responses. Careful selection of the acute program variables in a workout to simu late sports-specific movements is required for optimal transfer of gai ns made in training to competition. Thus, whether athletes require pre dominantly eccentric isometric, slow-velocity or high-velocity strengt h or power in their athletic event will dictate the lime commitment to each component and form the basis for designing individual workouts. Program variation over a training period is essential to maximize gain s and prevent overtraining.