Periodized programming is defined as the ‘long-term cyclic structuring of training and practice to maximize performance to coincide with important competitions’.
To put this simply, it is when a program is designed with a strategy in mind that will allow specificity, intensity and volume to be applied to the training routine appropriately and effectively.
Within general populations, exercise programmes are not always adequately planned out with a system in mind to allow for consistent, safe progress. Obviously, this is dependent upon the individual devising the programme. However, planning a periodized training programme can be taxing and hard-work and for personal trainers that have hours worth of physical coaching daily, some may lag behind when it comes to the planning of structured sessions that work along the pathway of the periodized programme.
Why is this a problem?
First and foremost, when the individual sessions do not follow the plan that (hopefully) was put in place at the very start of your training, then the trainer is now essentially guessing within the session plans. It might be an educated guess and even a pretty good guess, but is this really what you’re paying for? Our guess is no, you’re more than likely paying for a plan that is specific to you and your current capabilities, which will in turn push you towards the progress that you want, again, in turn allowing you to reach your goals as efficiently as possible.
Secondly, when your training has been put together based on educated guesses, not only will you not be getting maximum benefit from those sessions but you’re also more likely to be pushing your body too far and so, potentially towards injury. With that injury, comes weeks of recovery, weeks of rehabilitation training and before you know it, you’re worse off than when you started your training.
The Benefits of applying periodized programming to your training;
So, the benefits of applying periodized programming to your training…which, after listing the problems with not doing so are fairly obvious at this point.
Firstly, with periodized programming your training hasn’t just been planned out for the next week of your training, but it’s been planned systematically for the long-term all the way up until you reach your goal.
Therefore, allowing for periods of more intense training followed by periods of recovery and adaptation and so forth. This therefore ensures that you’re being pushed suitably to get both safe and sufficient results and adaptations from your training.
Taking the techniques used by elite level athletes and adapting them to be applied to your training. In turn, whether your goal be fat-loss, improved functionality, muscle gain or a reduced 5km running time, applying periodized programming to your training can only improve your ability to hit that goal.
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