Personal Training 101: Program Variables and Design

Dan Wathen, MA, ATC, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT*D, FNSCA1 and Patrick Hagerman, EdD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, FNSCA2 Athletic Trainer Emeritus, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio; and 2Sport Skill Development, Quest Personal Training Inc, Nowata, Oklahoma

SUMMARY
BUILDING SUCCESSFUL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR NOVICE AND INTERMEDIATE CLIENTS DEPENDS ON A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT PRODUCES AN APPROPRIATE OVERLOAD WITHOUT INDUCING OVERTRAINING. THE APPLICATION OF A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF SETS AND REPETITIONS PER EXERCISE, AN APPROPRIATE LOAD, AND CHOICE OF EXERCISES IN A TRAINING PROGRAM IS CRITICAL TO ITS SUCCESS. BASIC CONCEPTS OF PROGRAM DESIGN AND A SAMPLE BASIC PERIODIZATION PROGRAM ARE PROVIDED. INTRODUCTION

optimal strength gains. The center of this debate is whether a single set or multiple sets of an exercise provide the greatest strength gains. In the early 1960s, Berger (2,3) performed a series of experiments with college-aged novice trainees, concluding that 3 sets of 39 repetitions (reps) was best for strength gains when performed 3 times per week. Berger further concluded that it was only necessary to work at the repetition maximum (RM) once per week. Bergers work, along with many studies and meta-analyses demonstrating the superiority of multiple sets over a single set, has been criticized (4,5,7). This criticism stems from the fact that a single set of exercise has been shown to produce strength gains in some studies (4,5,7). The reason that a single set may produce strength gains is based on the idea that if a client moves from doing no strength training to completing one set of several exercises, an overload is produced that will result in some strength gain. However, the current scientic literature demonstrates that multiple sets will produce strength gains that are superior to single sets (13,6,814). So although a single set may produce an increase in strength, it will be limited to the overload induced, and multiple sets will provide a greater overload and therefore greater strength gains over time.
TRAINING AGE AND VOLUME

training, measured in months or years; the clients are categorized as novice, intermediate, or advanced. Training age is more critical to the exercise prescription than chronological age or gender because it partially determines the technical ability of the client and how quickly their body adapts and recovers from exercise (1,8,13). Generally speaking, as a client progresses in training age, so does their ability to handle a greater overall volume of training. Novices are generally clients with less than 6 months of strength training experience. Intermediate trainees have 612 months of strength training experience, and advanced clients will have at least a year of strength training experience. There are unlimited ways the components of an exercise program can be designed, and there is no single program that works for everyone. However, when working with novice clients, a trainer may choose to follow the guidelines set forth by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (1) and American College of Sports Medicine (8) of performing 13 sets of 615 reps per exercise. Novices with no previous strength training (training age = 0) may begin with a single set of each exercise, which will provide some strength gains; however, those gains will be limited because of the small volume of exercise, so when strength
KEY WORDS:

ne of the biggest challenges a strength and conditioning professional faces is designing programs that will provide the greatest benet to their client. Given that such a program must induce an overload to stress the muscles and require the body to change, each component of the program must be considered in relation to the nal goal. Program components that can be manipulated include the number of sets and repetitions, percent of one repetition maximum (%1RM), amount of rest between sets, and the exercises used.

SINGLE VERSUS MULTIPLE SETS

Few topics in resistance training have been debated more than the question of the proper number of sets to achieve

The training age of a client is the amount of time the person has been

sets; reps; loads; periodization

Copyright National Strength and Conditioning Association

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Program Variables and Design

Table 1
Sample 6-month periodization program for the novice client
Wk D Sets Reps %1RM

Mesocycle 1: 6 wk 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 Mesocycle 2: 6 wk 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 12 12 12 10 10 10 8 8 8 6 6 60 50 55 65 50 60 70 60 65 75 60 70 80 65 (continued) 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 6 6 6 8 8 8 10 10 10 12 12 12 14 14 14 6 6 6 60 50 55 60 50 55 60 50 55 60 50 55 60 50 55 60 50 55 Unloading wk Heavy d Light d Moderate d

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Table 1
(continued)
Wk D Sets Reps %1RM

5 6

3 13

13 13

6 6

70 60 Unloading wk

Mesocycles 3 and 4: Repeat the same sets, reps, and %1RM assignments as in mesocycles 1 and 2 but change the exercises performed. A 2-week transitional phase of active rest will be inserted after the fourth mesocycle. Goals should continue to be perfecting technique and developing a base of strength and muscular endurance. Reps = repetitions; RM = repetition maximum.

gains are of great importance, 23 sets per exercise should be used to provide more volume (6,8,914). These initial volumes of exercise will be sufcient to produce strength gains, mainly through the mechanisms of better neuromuscular coordination and intramuscular recruitment. As the client progresses to intermediate and advanced status, volume may be adjusted by adding sets and exercises, whereas reps can be lowered to allow for the use of a greater %1RM. Clients with more than 1 year of experience may need even more volume of training to continue to progress (1,8,13).
TRAINING INTENSITY

Training intensity is the amount of weight lifted relative to a clients maximum capabilities for a prescribed number of reps, usually denoted as %1RM. Training intensity along with variation in the number of sets, reps, length of rest periods between sets, and number of exercises are the most critical elements to sustain progress in resistance training (1,8,13). Most research indicates that working with loads of 5060% of 1RM is sufcient for novice trainees to make strength gains (8,11). However, as training progresses and strength increases, a greater %1RM must be used to continue progress. To insure proper training intensity and variation for the client, a periodized program should be developed (1,8,13). Novice trainees often have issues with time commitment and compliance with training programs (12). A personal trainer generally needs to increase the volume of exercise gradually to avoid having the client quit the program

because of excessive soreness, fatigue, or time-related issues. It is critical that novice clients develop proper exercise technique before increasing resistance such that they should never sacrice form for additional reps or resistance (1,13). 1RM may be tested after a couple of weeks of introductory training or a RM can be used instead. A RM is the greatest amount of weight that can be lifted for a specied number of reps. For instance, if a client completes 10 reps with 45 pounds, his or her 10RM for that exercise is 45 pounds. The trainer can then adjust the load by using a percentage of the RM for each exercise based on the number of reps to be performed.
PERIODIZATION FOR THE NOVICE CLIENT

1RM, but for the sake of increasing compliance and learning correct technique, the load will begin in this lower range and progress throughout the program. In this example, one of the days will be considered the heavy day (at the high end of the prescribed %1RM), whereas the other day(s) will use 510% less load than the heavy day for the same number of sets and reps. This allows the trainer to pick the heavy day when the client is best prepared. If the client is having a bad day (stressed out, not feeling well, and the like), the load can be adjusted to the moderate or light day load. An unloading week is used every 46 weeks with loads 1030% less than the preceding week.
PERIODIZATION FOR INTERMEDIATE CLIENTS

The novice client should begin strength training 23 days per week. Classic periodization varies loads on a daily basis and moves from high volume with low loads to low volume with high loads over time (12). The sample periodization program shown in Table 1 is a reverse periodization model where the client moves from low/moderate volume and load to high volume and moderate load. In the authors experience, the reverse periodization model serves to prevent extreme soreness that can result from overtraining a novice client by using a lower initial volume than classic periodization. There is quite a bit of trial and error in the beginning of most novice programs when nding loads that challenge but do not overly stress the client. Typically, a client can complete 6 reps with a load that is greater than 5060% of

As a client transitions from a novice to an intermediate, periodization can take on additional specic goals for each mesocycle. In the example shown in Table 2, a client begins with an endurance mesocycle, followed by a strength mesocycle, and ending with a strength and power mesocycle. The changes to sets, reps, and load are similar to the novice periodization scheme, but the number of sets has increased, as has the %1RM used. Repetitions for most exercises will remain within the 615 range, but there are some exceptions to the rule. Depending on the clients goals and their ability to perform front squats and dead lifts properly, some ballistic/explosive lifting may be introduced during the intermediate phase; however, the reps should remain at 5 or less for lifts, including power cleans, power snatches, one-arm snatches,

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Program Variables and Design

Table 2
Sample 3-month periodization program for the intermediate client.
Wk D Sets Reps %1RM

Mesocycle 1: 14 wkendurance phase 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 13 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 13 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 6 60 50 55 70 50 60 75 55 65 5565 Unloading wk Heavy d Light d Moderate d

Mesocycle 2: 58 wkstrength phase 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 13 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 Retest the 1RM for each exercise 8 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 5 65 75 80 60 70 85 65 75 6070 Unloading wk

Mesocycle 3: 912 wkstrength and power phase 9 9 9 10 10 10 11 11 11 12 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 13 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 Retest the 1RM for each exercise 5 5 4 4 4 23 23 23 4 85 75 90 70 80 95 70 80 6070 Unloading wk

Depending on clients goals, progress with a similar set and repetition model until they reach a year of training status, at which time greater volume in the form of sets may be added. Regular transitional weeks should be taken at the end of each major block of training. Reps = repetitions; RM = repetition maximum.

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power jerks, and push presses. As the %1RM climbs, the number of reps possible per set will decrease. When the client reaches levels of 85% of 1RM and greater, reps will be below the traditional 615 range. Additionally, rather than dramatically increasing the amount of weight for an exercise, increase the intensity of the exercises during this scheme by adding a set, reducing the rest periods between sets, and/or increasing the speed of movement during the concentric phase of a the lift.
SUMMARY

3. Berger RA. Optimal repetitions for the development of strength. Res Q 33: 334338, 1962. 4. Carpinelli RN. Berger in retrospect: Effect of varied weight training programs on strength. Br J Sports Med 36: 319324, 2002. 5. Carpinelli RN and Otto RM. Strength training: Single versus multiple sets. Sports Med 26: 7384, 1998. 6. Krieger JW. Single versus multiple sets of resistance exercise: A meta-regression. J Strength Cond Res 23: 18901901, 2009. 7. Otto RM and Carpinelli RN. A critical analysis of the single versus multiple set debate. JEPonline 9: 3257, 2006. 8. Ratamess NA, Alvar BA, Evetoch TK, Housh TJ, Kibler WB, Kraemer WJ, and Triplett NT. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41: 687708, 2009. 9. Rhea MR, Alvar BA, Ball SD, and Burkett LN. Three sets of weight training

superior to one set with equal intensity for eliciting strength. J Strength Cond Res 16: 525529, 2002. 10. Rhea MR, Alvar BA, and Burkett LN. Single for multiple sets for strength: A meta-analysis to address the controversy. Res Q Exerc Sport 73: 485488, 2002. 11. Rhea MR, Alvar BA, Burkett LN, and Ball SD. A meta-analysis to determine the dose response for strength development. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35: 456464, 2003. 12. Sharkey B. Fitness and Health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1997. pp. 362. 13. Stone MH, Plisk SS, Stone ME, Schilling BK, OBryant HS, and Pierce KC. Athletic performance development: Volume load1-set vs. multiple sets, training velocity, and training variation. Strength Cond J 20: 2231, 1998. 14. Wolfe BL, Lemura LM, and Cole PJ. Quantitative analysis of single vs. multiple set programs in resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 18: 3547, 2004.

In summary, current research and the clients goals and expectations will determine the optimal number of sets, reps, and %1RM used per exercise. Current guidelines call for 13 sets of 615 reps for novice trainees and 24 sets of 115 reps for intermediate and advance trainees. Higher reps are associated with more muscular endurance gains, whereas lower reps are associated with greater strength and power gains (1,8). Dan Wathen is an athletic trainer emeritus at Youngstown State University.

Patrick Hagerman is the director of Sport Skill Development at Quest Personal Training Inc.

REFERENCES
1. Baechle TA and Earle RW. Resistance Training Program Design In Essentials of Personal Training. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2004. pp. 370383. 2. Berger RA. Effect of varied weight training programs on strength. Res Q 33: 168181, 1962.

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