The Strength Coach Podcast

Mike Boyle on Manipulation of Information with Research

4 snips
Jan 15, 2026
Guest
Mike Boyle
Mike Boyle, a veteran strength coach known for training elite athletes, dives into the complexities of lifting heavy weights, particularly for older adults and women. He discusses how social media fuels misunderstandings and backlash around heavy lifting and lets us peek behind the curtain of injury statistics and research reliability. Boyle emphasizes the importance of context in training and shares his thoughts on safe programming. Tune in for a fresh perspective on strength training and the evolving landscape of fitness communication.
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INSIGHT

Research Is Frequently Misapplied

  • Research cited online often gets misapplied or stretched beyond its context.
  • Mike Boyle says many studies are old or use non-barbell machines and aren’t compelling evidence for heavy barbell safety.
INSIGHT

Percentages Hide Practical Risk

  • Small injury rates can still be clinically meaningful depending on context.
  • Boyle argues that 6% (2/32) is too high for group training where one injury per small class is unacceptable.
ADVICE

Adjust Intensity For Demographics

  • Tailor training intensity to the demographic rather than adopting one-size-fits-all heavy lifting.
  • For many older adults Boyle recommends avoiding maximal single-rep testing and using submax projections instead.
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