High Performance Physiology

In this episode, Chris and Rob describe how to program for contact team sports (like rugby and American football) within the context of the High Performance Physiology method four-part workout structure (high-velocity...

In this episode, Chris and Rob explain [1] what adaptations isometrics are best suited to stimulating, and [2] how to include isometrics in a standard strength training program for stimulating those adaptations. They...

In this episode, Chris and Rob analyze the strength training program used in the study: "Exploring the Upper Limits of Resistance Training Volume for Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Athletes" by Räntilä and...

Finally, Chris and Rob tackle block periodization, explaining why it makes very little sense for athletes in any strength or power sport. This episode references material covered in previous conversations, especially...

As a preparatory topic before covering block periodization, Chris and Rob explain the concept of supercompensation. Supercompensation is the observation that outcome measures (like strength, speed, power) can reduce...

The dose-response of hypertrophy to workout volume is a famous phenomenon. In this episode, Chris and Rob talk about how all adaptations display dose-responses (even though they have not been as carefully studied). That...

Following on from the earlier episode about two-leg vertical jumping, Chris and Rob tackle single-leg vertical jumping and explain how it relates to power training (with power cleans and jump squats).

Chris was sick this week so this week's episode is a short one covering some practical suggestions on how we can still get productive training sessions while suffering from either a cold or flu.

Chris and Rob describe exactly how to combine bodybuilding with athletic preparation training for people who want to pursue multiple goals at the same time. They give three separate options depending on whether the two...

In this very practical episode, Chris and Rob talk about how athletes can increase maximum strength without gaining weight (or without gaining too much muscle mass).

Following directly on from last week's podcast episode on potentiation, Chris and Rob talk about contrast training from a physiological perspective. They explain why in most cases, a more traditional approach to...

Potentiation is a temporary and reversible increase in exercise performance as a result of a previous bout of exercise (note that this is the exact opposite of the fatigue definition). In this episode, Chris and Rob...

Following on from the previous episode about muscle strain injuries, Chris and Rob talk about the physiology of tendon damage and how it likely leads to both tendinopathy and tendon ruptures. Afterwards, they describe...

Chris and Rob talk about how muscle strain injuries happen, and what we can do in strength training programs to help reduce the risk of them happening.

Chris and Rob talk through what the literature says about the relationship between track sprinting performance and the muscle volumes of the hip extensors, hip flexors, knee extensors, knee flexors, and ankle...