Research

Mixed

Training adaptations (e.g., VO2max, strength) vary greatly between individuals, necessitating monitoring and re-planning for non-responders.

Don't assume a standard program works for everyone. Track your progress (e.g., weight lifted, running pace). If you aren't improving after a few weeks, increase the dose or change the exercise. Personalization through monitoring is key.

WeakQualifiesHIGH confidence
the adaptation to a given, e.g. endurance or resistance training programme is often highly variable. Until biomarkers for trainability are identified, we must therefore continue to test athletes, clients, or patients, and monitor training variables via a training log to determine whether an individual sufficiently responds to a training intervention or else re-plan.
Henning Wackerhage et al. · Sports Medicine · 2021

Why this rating

The paper cites multiple studies showing wide variation in VO2max and strength responses, supported by meta-analyses.

Source

Personalized, Evidence-Informed Training Plans and Exercise Prescriptions for Performance, Fitness and Health

Henning Wackerhage et al. · Sports Medicine · 2021

DOI 10.1007/s40279-021-01495-w

narrative_reviewCited 78×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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