The athlete keeps training to overcome a type of exercise they find difficult. Yet afterwards their body feels heavy, and in competition they cannot produce force as they would like.
In such cases, as well as caring for the condition at that point, we need to consider why the athlete struggles to cope with that load, and what kind of work would help build a body that can cope with it.
Using muscle condition and actual performance as cues, Zeroka Seitai has worked with athletes to adapt their training.
From practice | Struggling to produce force in competition after a particular type of training
One athlete in a youth development age group whom we supported found high-intensity middle- and long-distance work difficult. The issue was that after high-load training such as interval training, which develops both endurance and explosive power, their movement became much heavier than that of other athletes.
After particular training sessions we found a characteristic muscle condition, and as that load continued, the athlete found it harder to perform at their usual level in competition.
Scroll sideways to read the full table.
| What we were checking | What we considered in our support |
|---|---|
| Muscle condition changes after a particular type of training | What kind of strain that training is placing on the body |
| As the load continues, it becomes harder to produce force in competition | Whether the balance of load and recovery suits the athlete’s body at present |
| The athlete finds high-intensity middle- and long-distance work difficult | Through what process to develop the ability to cope with that type of exercise |
What follows is our interpretation of what we observed over time. We understood that muscle condition as possibly reflecting what we describe as waste-product build-up. We also considered that characteristics of oxygen supply and use, and of energy metabolism, might be involved.
These are hypotheses drawn from what we felt by touch during hands-on work and from how things developed over time. They do not mean that the cause was established by blood tests or metabolic measurement.
Responding to the current condition, and developing the ability to cope with the load
We also provided hands-on work for this athlete’s muscle condition. We shared with the trainer the changes we observed after training and what we had done in hands-on work, and also reviewed whether continuing to apply the same load was leading towards the physical development being aimed for.
Rather than simply repeating the high-intensity middle- and long-distance work the athlete found difficult, we considered why they struggled to cope with that load, tried various approaches to training, and checked how the body responded.
Pursuing two approaches in parallel
Changes confirmed over time
As we followed the athlete over time, we confirmed that the marked heaviness in movement and the heavy muscle condition seen before no longer appeared, even after the same training.
Settling the condition at the time, and becoming able to cope with that load in future: this is a case in which we connected both in our support. We do not present it as a case in which the size of the improvement in endurance or changes in metabolism were verified with figures.
Before “doing more because it is difficult”, look at the body’s response
Exercise an athlete finds difficult does need training that addresses it. On the other hand, if increasing the load leaves the athlete unable to move well in the next training session or competition, that response is also something to take into account.
Scroll sideways to read the full table.
| Perspective | What we want to check |
|---|---|
| Purpose of the training | Which abilities to develop, and in which situations the athlete should be able to produce force |
| The body’s current response | How the muscles and movement change after that load |
| Effect on what follows | What changes appear in the next training session or competition |
| Response after changing the approach | Whether the athlete is moving in the intended direction, and whether the same problem is continuing |
Rather than judging whether training is good or bad from a single finding on touch, we look over time for a way of progressing that suits the athlete.
How we can work with the staff who support the athlete
When applying this experience in an athlete’s setting, it is important to share the purpose of the training and the body’s response with the trainers and coaching staff responsible for the athlete.
To the training content and the athlete’s performance in competition, as known to the athlete’s staff, and to the athlete’s own sense, Zeroka Seitai adds information about the condition of the muscles.
Rather than continuing to avoid a load the athlete finds difficult, we consider together how to move towards a body that can cope with it. We connect the cues available from the muscles not only to hands-on work but also to athlete development and to adapting training.