Hard Pressed

What internal mechanism does ballistic training effect that regular resistance training does not that makes it superior?

Anyone?

One of biggest factors that differentiates high intensity training (HIT) from other exercise modes is the lack of ballistic/”explosive” training.

HIT excludes these exercise first and for most because of safety – but they are not any more effective in making one stronger or more “explosive.”

(They are actually far less effective in most circumstances)

Now I reviewed all available literature on the matter in grad school (I will post those papers again soon).

The question that I beg someone to answer for me is – What internal mechanism does ballistic training effect that regular resistance training does not?

I see a lot of people at the gym perform exercises that look more like rehab than actual exercise.

I think a lot of times people think the exercises that got them healthy after an injury are going to keep them healthy and strong over the long haul.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

A physical therapists job is to get you back to a strength level that allows you to function normally – not get you strong enough to prevent future injury.

To get someone who is weakened by injury stronger it doesn’t take much resistance, so the cute little things that they do – balls, bands, etc – are very effective.

I would argue that their choice in training modalities has to do with their environment as well.

PT’s see a large volume of patients in a very confined space – it would be impossible to have a lot of real strength equipment in such tight quarters. And because their patients are in such a weakened state having such equipment may be unnecessary.

So again they choose balls and bands and light dumbbells, but these modalities can only get you so far.

To get you beyond what a PT can do you need real weight training. The resistance provided by PT type exercises at some point simply won’t be heavy enough for you to make continued strength gains.