Barbell Medicine Podcast Episode #367: Training Load ft. Dr. Franco Impellizzeri
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Sep 24, 2025 Dr. Franco Impellizzeri, a leading sports scientist specializing in training load, shares his insights on this critical concept. He breaks down external versus internal training loads, emphasizing their importance in programming and injury prevention. Listeners learn about measuring training loads accurately, the pitfalls of simplistic metrics, and the complexities of coaching biases. Dr. Impellizzeri also discusses the limits of predicting injuries and the balance between performance and fatigue. A must-listen for coaches and athletes looking to optimize their training strategies!
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External vs Internal Load
- External load is the work you administer (barbell weight, distance, sets).
- Internal load is the body's physiological and psychological response to that external stimulus.
Measure What Your Program Targets
- Choose metrics to monitor that directly reflect the variables you planned in the training program.
- Let the coach's program determine which external-load measures matter, not sports scientists alone.
Proxies Replace Hard-to-Measure Mediators
- External proxies often stand in for unmeasurable mediating mechanisms like neuromuscular stimulus.
- Evaluate whether new proxies (e.g., velocity) actually track the mediator you care about.
