Absurdity of Athletic Training Today

Overtraining in team weightrooms is epidemic. Indiana Jones once said, when defending his rundown and haggard looking condition, " Its not my age, its the mileage." Many of us can relate because its very true. Weightlifters and athletes that have been around for a while have a litany of injuries cataloged on their frame over the years. They appear in the form of nagging aches, weakened joints and sudden debilitating injuries that seemingly occur during everyday activities. 

So what happens when a person is both a weightlifter and an athlete? Why thats common sense right? You have double the mileage hence double the injuries. So why in the world do strength and conditioning coaches, trainers and the like subject their athletes to unnecassary mileage? Seems like common sense but the routines I have seen for athletes prescribed by coaches are absurd. If you take anything from this article heed the following warning: 

If your trainer or coach has you working a bodypart or exercise more than once a week, then you are sabotaging your results  and musculo-skeletal health. Seek a different program. People dont realize the toll high intensity sports take on your body. Football requires recovery more than most workouts. The same with the weight room- when someone is sore there are microtears, exploded and leaking cells, massive hormone and vitamin depletion etc. 

Unfortunately the common and agreed upon theory all the way to late 20th century was that muscle breaks down after 48 hours if you dont work out. Hence some of the M,W,F routines that are still being practiced. Intense resistance training workouts require at least 7 days rest for the average human. Thats right, If I have a client whos progress slows down while coming once a week, Ill prescribe they come once every 8 days and it works 90% of the time. Why subject an athlete (especially football) to on or more unecessary workouts per week? Couldnt that time be better spent recovering or practicing skills for their specific sport? 

Ask yourself that next time you subject an athlete, child or yourself to a similiar workout schedule.