Merrick Lincoln | The Power of Instruction: Applying Motor Learning Science to Teaching and Cueing Exercise Technique

As coaches and trainers, how we teach, instruct, and cue exercises have a profound impact on movement performance. It has implications for skill acquisition, future performance, and even injury prevention. Dr. Merrick Lincoln, DPT, joins this episode to discuss the science of exercise instruction and emerging strategies for impactful teaching.

We explore the concept of fundamental resistance training movement patterns and examine the traditional exercise instructional approach to one through the lens of dynamic systems theory. We look at how individual, environmental, and task constraints are taken into account when teaching and evaluating movement. Additionally, we dive into the concept of self-organization and the role of the coach in guiding the client to identify the essential parts of an exercise.

Lastly, we navigate the complex territory of movement variability and exercise complexity. We discuss how coaches can guide and cue movement complexities to promote athletes' ownership of their movements. We provide practical examples of effective coaching strategies, highlight the power of our words as authority figures, and emphasize the importance of creating a shared library of meaning between coach and athlete.

Time stamps:

[6:40] Using writing to blend research and practice

[11:59] Is there a consensus on how to teach resistance exercise technique?

[15:53] A constraints-led approach to exercise technique

[27:40] Understanding self-organization when evaluating movement quality

[38:04] Applying motor learning principles when teaching exercises

[50:24] Fostering athletes who take ownership of their own movement

[54:15] How to connect with Merrick and upcoming events

Dr. Merrick Lincoln is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Saginaw Valley State University, a physical therapist in Midland, Michigan. He's an applied biomechanics researcher, a strength and conditioning coach, and an author for scholarly and fitness publications including Strength and Conditioning Journal, T-Nation, and Breaking Muscle.

To follow Merrick, you can find him on Instagram.

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