Adjusting training load session-to-session based on the athlete's current readiness.
Autoregulation refers to methods (e.g. RPE/RIR-based load selection, velocity-based training, or daily testing like AMRAP sets) that adjust prescribed load or volume based on an athlete's measured or perceived readiness that day, rather than following a fixed pre-planned progression. It is intended to account for day-to-day fluctuations in fatigue, recovery, and performance capacity. Evidence that autoregulated programming produces superior long-term outcomes versus well-designed fixed periodization is mixed, and definitions/methods vary considerably across studies.
This guide was auto-drafted and is pending editorial review.