Barbell Medicine Podcast Episode #367: Training Load ft. Dr. Franco Impellizzeri
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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From Private Research To Academia
- Dr. Franco worked ten years in a private research center supporting teams and athletes.
- He later moved into orthopedics and academia to broaden his perspective.
Personal Commitment To Strength Training
- Franco is a strength-training addict who built a garage gym and trained daily for years.
- He still prioritizes resistance training for its psychological and physical benefits.
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.
