My professional practice initially centred on movement optimisation, postural adaptations, and the management of musculoskeletal pain. Although these remain fundamental components of re/pre/post rehabilitation, my current approach extends beyond restoring movement quality alone. The development of muscular strength, muscular endurance, and cardiorespiratory endurance is equally important, as each represents a distinct physiological capacity contributing to long-term health and physical performance.
No single training methodology is sufficient to optimise human function. Human movement depends upon the interaction of multiple systems, including the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and metabolic systems. Consequently, an effective training programme should develop strength, endurance, mobility, coordination, balance, and movement efficiency rather than prioritising one physical quality at the expense of others.
The distinction between maximal strength and functional capacity is frequently misunderstood. Greater external lifting capacity does not necessarily translate to superior movement efficiency or muscular endurance. Force production is influenced not only by muscle cross-sectional area but also by neuromuscular coordination, joint stability, mechanical alignment, and the length-tension relationship of skeletal muscle. When joints are positioned within mechanically favourable ranges and force is transmitted efficiently throughout the kinetic chain, the available muscular force can be expressed more effectively while reducing unnecessary energy expenditure.
For this reason, resistance training should not be limited to concentric muscle actions. Skeletal muscle generates force through concentric, eccentric, and isometric contractions, each producing distinct structural and neurological adaptations. Concentric contractions are essential for movement production, eccentric contractions are associated with substantial improvements in strength development, tendon remodelling, and deceleration capacity, whereas isometric contractions contribute to joint stability, neuromuscular control, and sustained force production. Evidence consistently demonstrates that integrating all three contraction modes within resistance training programmes results in broader functional adaptations than programmes emphasising concentric contractions alone.
This integrated perspective may also explain why some individuals experience prolonged plateaus despite years of resistance training. Persistent strength deficits, recurrent musculoskeletal discomfort, movement asymmetries, or reduced movement efficiency often reflect limitations in motor control, intermuscular coordination, or force transmission rather than insufficient training volume. Increasing external load without addressing these underlying factors may further reinforce compensatory movement strategies instead of improving overall physical capacity.
Accordingly, progression should not be determined solely by increasing training intensity or volume. Greater improvements in function may be achieved through precision in exercise selection, movement execution, and neuromuscular adaptation. Within this framework, movement optimisation does not replace strength or endurance training; rather, it provides the biomechanical and neurological foundation upon which these physical capacities can be developed safely and efficiently. The objective is not simply to increase force production, but to optimise the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of human movement across the lifespan.
References
American College of Sports Medicine. (2009). Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(3), 687–708. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181915670
Franchi, M. V., Reeves, N. D., & Narici, M. V. (2017). Skeletal muscle remodeling in response to eccentric versus concentric loading: Morphological, molecular, and metabolic adaptations. Frontiers in Physiology, 8, 447. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00447
Neumann, D. A. (2017). Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation (3rd ed.). Elsevier.
Oranchuk, D. J., Storey, A. G., Nelson, A. R., & Cronin, J. B. (2019). Isometric training and long-term adaptations: Effects of muscle length, intensity, and intent: A systematic review. Sports Medicine, 49(6), 885–915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01084-2
Suchomel, T. J., Nimphius, S., & Stone, M. H. (2016). The importance of muscular strength in athletic performance. Sports Medicine, 46(10), 1419–1449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0486-0
Winter, D. A. (2009). Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Mulberry Whale PTM & Corrective Exercise 