Fitness-fatigue theory

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From the course by University of Florida

Science of Training Young Athletes Part 2

30 ratings

University of Florida

Science of Training Young Athletes Part 2

30 ratings

In this course you will learn how to design the type of training that takes advantage of the plastic nature of the athlete’s body so you mold the right phenotype for a sport. We explore ways the muscular system can be designed to generate higher force and power and the type of training needed to mold the athlete's physical capacity so it meets the energy and biochemical demands of the sport. We also examine the cost of plasticity when it is carried beyond the ability of the body to adjust itself to meet the imposed training stresses. The cost of overextending plasticity comes in the form injuries and chronic fatigue. In essence, a coach can push the athlete’s body too far and it can fail. Upon completion of this course you will be able to assemble a scientifically sound annual training plan.

From the lesson

Preparing the athlete for competition

The final topic examines how to organize an athlete’s training so it ensures peak performance. We begin by discussing how to manage the various training effects resulting from a training session. Then we explore methods you can use to quantify training loads and how to taper those loads before a major competition. Finally, you will learn about thinking behind assembling an annual training plan

Introduction5:08

Generalized training effect9:25

Residual training effects2:49

The Problem with Super Compensation Theory4:36

Fitness-fatigue theory5:16

Meet the Instructors

Dr. Chris Brooks
Instructor
Coaching Science Coordinator for USA Track and Field

The fitness-fatigue theory is believed to better represent how

an athlete's performance improves after a training session.

And in 2003, Loren Chiu and

Jacque Barnes wrote a nice overview of the fitness-fatigue model and

compared it with the traditional super compensation theory model.

Fitness-fatigue theory proposes that we need to view fitness and

fatigue effects as separate entities.

The fitness effect improves the athlete's physiological

capacity whereas the fatigue effects decrease it.

The athlete's performance depends on the Difference between the Fitness and

the Fatigue effects.

This chart here illustrates the fitness-fatigue effect due to

a Training session.

It's a different look from the super compensation theory graph.

After a training session,

the fitness gain is moderate, but it is long lasting.

The Fatigue effect on the other hand is greater than the fitness effect.

As you can see by the depth of the graph here, but its duration is much shorter.

If you consider both the fitness effect and the fatigue effect,

the change in fitness would look something like the blue line.

Now according to Zatsiorsky, the duration of the fitness effects after

a training session last three times longer than the fatigue effects to.

And this means that if the negative effects, or fatigue, lasts for 24 hours,

the positive fitness effects from this training session will last for 72 hours.

The goal of the coach using the fitness fatigue model is to time

the next training session when the fatigue effects of

the preceding training session are largely dissipated.

But before the fitness effects have completely disappeared.

Fatigue is not an issue for

coaches guided by super compensation theory because this theory predicts

that fatigue has completely dissipated at the height of super compensation.

The two models suggest a different tapering philosophy,

and we'll talk more about tapering in the next lesson.

So when tapering or peaking an athlete for competition,

the Supercompensation theory suggests decreasing

the frequency of training while keeping the same training loads.

The athlete attempts to compete at the peak of supercompensation.

Recovery days before competition or

time so supercompensation peaks on the competition day.

Fatigue, remember, is not considered because it is thought to

be already dissipated at the peak of supercompensation.

Now a coach using the Fitness-fatigue theory believes that the goal

is to avoid accumulating fatigue during the final phase of preparation for

competition while simultaneously stimulating high fitness effects.

The Fitness-fatigue theory coach will keep the frequency of

training the same but reduce the training load.

Now Zatziorsky graphically represents the fitness and the fatigue effects

in a slightly different way, and I really do prefer his way of looking at it.

The fitness effect is highest immediately after the training session

with the effects gradually declining back to baseline.

The fatigue effects are also highest after the training session by

the depth of the chart, and they gradually decline back to baseline.

So it's becoming increasingly less negative.

Now as the fatigue effect declines the athlete experiences a gradual

increase in level of performance.

And the athletes peak performance does not reach baseline until

almost only fatigue effects have disappeared.

An athlete is never able to use most of their fitness effects that they,

that was stimulated by the training session.

Due to the fact that there is always a lingering fatigue effect.

Now once all the fatigue effects have dissipated the remaining fitness

effects contribute to the athlete's level of preparedness or

fitness for the competition.

Now as you see here, only a small amount of fitness effect

remains after removal of all the fatigue effects.

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