03/06/2020
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A majority of people mistakenly believe that "evidence-based practice" is simply a matter of deferring to research for answers. This most definitely is NOT the case when it comes to exercise prescription.
The ability to create effective exercise programs is part science, part art. Research provides insights into how people tend to respond to various stimuli, as well as fostering an understanding of the mechanisms that drive adaptations. These factors are extremely useful to help guide decision-making.
But it's important to realize there are inherent limitations when attempting to draw inferences from research, as well as large inter-individual responses to exercise based on both genetic and lifestyle factors. Customizing prescription to a given lifter thus requires extensive expertise as a practioner. Only with years of experience in the trenches do you get a true appreciation for the "art" of putting the science into practice based on individual response. This is why the best evidence-based fitness practitioners have both a keen understanding of the literature, as well as walking-the-walk in the gym. 💪🏽
