Resistance training is a cornerstone of modern athletic training, fitness, and rehabilitation programs. However, traditional methods of prescribing exercise intensity, primarily based on percentages of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), often overlook individual variability and dynamic daily physiological and psychological conditions of trainees. Recent studies indicate considerable limitations in the applicability and effectiveness of traditional intensity guidelines, suggesting the need for more flexible and adaptive strategies. Emerging technologies such as wearable devices, velocity-based training tools, and sophisticated analytic approaches provide new avenues for precisely tailoring resistance training programs. Despite promising preliminary findings, the majority of these innovative approaches lack extensive evaluation regarding safety, effectiveness, practicality, and acceptance by trainees and practitioners. A rigorously conducted exploration of contemporary methods and their integration into practical training programs is therefore necessary for addressing the current gaps in research and practice.
This Research Topic aims to comprehensively investigate alternative and innovative strategies for prescribing exercise intensity in resistance training, moving beyond traditional percentage-based methods. Key objectives include evaluating the effectiveness and safety of emerging technologies and methodologies such as wearable devices, velocity metrics, biomarkers, and autoregulatory approaches. Additionally, this topic seeks to explore how psychological, genetic, biometric and lifestyle factors can enhance individualized intensity prescriptions. Research questions addressed may include: "How does technology-assisted intensity prescription influence training outcomes compared to traditional methods?", "What are the physiological and psychological markers most predictive of optimal training intensity?" and "How safe and acceptable are novel autoregulatory approaches compared to conventional guidelines?".
To better understand and promote cutting-edge intensity prescription strategies, this Research Topic will focus exclusively on methods and technologies pertinent to resistance training. Studies applying innovative intensity prescriptions to aerobic or other non-resistance modalities fall outside this scope. We welcome contributions addressing the following themes:
- Emerging technologies (e.g., wearables, mobile apps, artificial intelligence applications) for innovative intensity prescription. - Autoregulatory strategies such as Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and velocity-based training. - Physiological biomarkers related to intensity prescription including heart rate variability, lactate threshold, hormonal responses, and muscle oxygenation. - Psychological considerations including motivation, mental fatigue, exercise adherence, and perceived barriers impacting intensity prescription. - Individualized resistance training case studies based on genetic profiling, biometric data, and lifestyle factors. - Safety assessments, risk factors, and efficacy evaluations of novel intensity prescription protocols.
We encourage Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Methods papers, and Clinical Trials that enhance our collective understanding and guide best practices in resistance training intensity prescription.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Case Report
Conceptual Analysis
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Mini Review
Opinion
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
