Importance of physiological testing

The philosophy SBR Coaching & Training Center using for coaching, training and testing is based on the SAID principle. This principle states that there is a Specific Adaptation to an Imposed Demand. The SAID principle explains that a certain exercise or type of training produces adaptations specific to the activity performed and only in the muscles (and energy systems) that are stressed by the activity. For example, running produces favorable adaptations in the leg muscles and the cardio-vascular system. However, the muscles and systems not stressed show no adaptation; so even heroic amounts of running will produce no favorable changes in, say, the arms. Of course, the adaptations that result from running do transfer somewhat to other sports that depend on the same body parts and systems.

Another key principle to remember is over and under-training. This means where too little and too much stimulus or training load will result in sub-optimal performances. Simply put, if you don’t train, you won’t perform, but if you train too much you run the risk of breaking down and hurting your performance

Knowing this, it is important to train correctly for you and your goals. A basis tenet in you training for any event is that there is a distinct relationship between your training load (or training stimulus) and your adaptive response or performance. While the idea, that too little or too much stress can hurt performance, is well known, determining the optimal or perfect amount of training for you can be the biggest obstacle you face. Receiving proper data about your physiological fitness will help you train correctly and efficiently. Along with knowing your data, receiving accurate and reliable feedback is a critical aspect of your training program.