FRS Internal Strength Model^®

Prologue: The Origins of Human Movement by Means of Natural Selection, Dr. Andreo A. Spina

Before specifically examining the topic of strength development, this lecture sets the context by offering a complete examination of the evolutionary biological processes that lead the development of coordinated human movement. Concepts from this lecture are called upon throughout the rest of the seminar as we re-examine the manipulatable variables that can influence movement and ultimately, force output through movement.

The Evolution of Strength and Strength Training, John Quint

How did strength training come to be? Why do we recognize particular movements as strength exercises to the exclusion of others? What was the intent behind the creation of the ‘named’ exercises that we select from to develop programs?

Diving in the history of strength development, we examine the state of the scientific literature at the time that strength training was first being developed. What is discovered is that many of the ‘named’ exercises still in use today were created at a time when we knew very little about muscle physiology. Considering new scientific developments regarding how muscles function, how force generation and discharge occur, and how the biological determinants of strength are controlled by our neurology allow us to re-focus our goals, and execution of strength programming.

Strength – An Emergent Biological Phenomenon, John Quint

Strength emerges when the biological elements, and the neurological mechanisms are synthesized to solve a specific problem or task which requires the generation and discharge of force.

From an external training perspective, as the goal is the external display of strength, the specific biological consequences of inputs are often ignored.

Taking an internal perspective, we identify all of the specific biological elements that have been shown to be influenced with precise strength inputs. Making the cultivation of these elements our main goal, we are able to cultivate an interior environment that is not only suited to specific tasks, but that can deal with the variability of human performance.

Strength Training and The Endocrine Response, Dr. John Saratsiotis

In this lecture we review the current scientific literature identifying training intensity, not exercise selection, as the main driver of biological adaptation. With this concept in mind, we are able to refocus training inputs to cultivate stronger and more robust internal environments to meet the challenges of external demands.

Biofeedback Mechanisms in Strength Training, Dr. John Saratsiotis

Manual Biofeedback has been a topic of focus since the inception of the Functional Range Systems in order to improve the specificity of inputs. In this lecture, Dr. Saratsiotis review the literature surrounding this under-utilized too. Specifically he examines its place in directing tissue specific strength training inputs.

The Scientific Framework of the Internal Strength Model, Dr. Michael D. Chivers

With no intention of reinventing the wheel regarding strength training and development, in this lecture we set out an updated scientific framework to improve our understanding as to how to program for specific biological results.

Training Intensity: Maxims, Ecology, and Efficiency, John Quint

In external strength training, traditional markers of intensity are used to elicit specific outcomes (reps, sets, successful lift completion, etc.). Whereas in the internal training realm, such traditional markers become unusable.

In this lecture, we describe how to specifically set internal training intensity to elicit specific biological outcomes.  Also described is how the combination of internal & external training is required to maintain a balanced ecological internal environment.

FRS Principles of Strength, Dr. Andreo A. Spina

In this lecture Dr. Spina argues that in the case of strength training, the theory (accumulation of scientific literature) does very little to explain the actual practice (exercise selection, sequencing of exercises, etc). While the theory provides results from tests of muscular output, tendon strength, protein production, and the like, it speaks very little on the topics of exercise selection, sequencing of exercises, tissue specific loading limits, etc., leaving the practitioners to attempt to fill in the gaps.

Using an internal perspective, the FRS Principles of Strength allow us to reframe, reinterpret, and re-organize training inputs such that they support movement creation.

By the end of the seminar, the participant will have a specific framework on which to create tissue specific, internal training programs that can run concurrently with the traditional external training paradigm.