Specificity & Exercise

Exercise is one of the most important things that a person can do for their overall health and well-being. However, not all exercise is created equal. It's important to understand that the type of exercise you do should be specific to your goals in order to maximise the benefits you receive.

Specificity is a training principle that states that in order to improve a particular aspect of fitness or performance, the training should be specific to that aspect. In other words, if you want to improve your strength, you need to perform strength exercises, and if you want to improve your endurance, you need to perform endurance exercises.

To apply specificity to an exercise program, you need to first identify your specific fitness goals. Once you know what you want to achieve, you can design your program to focus on the exercises and activities that will help you reach those goals.

To apply specificity to an exercise program, you need to first identify your specific fitness goals. Once you know what you want to achieve, you can design your program to focus on the exercises and activities that will help you reach those goals.

Whether you're looking to lose weight, build muscle, increase your endurance, or simply improve your overall health, it's essential to tailor your exercise routine to meet those specific goals.

Here are some reasons why exercise should be specific to your goals:

1. Improved Results: When you perform exercises that are specific to your goals, you will see better results than if you were to perform random exercises that do not target your specific goals. For example, if your goal is to build muscle, you will see better results from doing strength training exercises such as squats and bench presses than if you were to only do cardio exercises such as running or cycling.

2. Time Efficiency: When you have a specific goal in mind, you can design your exercise routine to be more time efficient. For example, if your goal is to improve your endurance for a 5km race, you can focus on running-specific workouts rather than spending time on exercises that don't contribute to that goal.

3. Motivation: Having a specific goal in mind can be a great motivator for sticking to an exercise routine. When you know what you're working towards, it's easier to stay focused and committed. Additionally, when you start seeing results, it can be a great motivator to keep going.

4. Injury Prevention: By focusing on exercises specific to your goals, you can help prevent injuries. For example, if you're a runner, you may want to focus on exercises that improve your leg strength and flexibility to prevent common running injuries like shin splints.

5. Personalisation: Everyone's goals and bodies are different, and exercise should be tailored to meet those individual needs. By focusing on exercises specific to your goals, you can personalize your exercise routine to fit your unique needs and preferences.

It's important to note that while specificity is important for improving a particular aspect of fitness or performance, it's also important to have a well-rounded exercise program that includes a variety of exercises to improve overall fitness and prevent injury. So, make sure to include a mix of exercises that target strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance.

For information on how you can make your program specific to your needs call us now and book in with one of our Exercise physiologist to help you on your health journey. #specificity #exercise #goals