Quality Performance Training Is Simple, Raw & Intense | Avoid The "Fancy" Stuff With Your Program
Quality Performance Training Is Simple, Raw & Intense: Avoid The "Fancy" Stuff - Lewis Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab
Performance training should be intense, raw, and simple. Yet in recent years, we’ve seen a shift toward incorporating physical therapy–style corrective exercises as the main focus of athletic development. While corrective strategies have value, they should never replace the foundational movements that drive real adaptation.
What you’ll learn in this blog:
Why corrective PT movements have a place, but not the main stage
The 4 pillars of performance training
The difference between training for performance vs. training for rehab
How to keep programs effective without unnecessary complexity
The Problem with PT Correctives in Performance Training
Corrective-based work has its role—especially for injury rehab and targeted weaknesses. However, when these become the primary driver of training, athletes miss out on the adaptations that truly build speed, strength, and power.
For example, a rear-foot elevated split squat is useful, but it will never match the adaptation from a trap bar deadlift. Similarly, “balance training” is often overemphasized in performance programs, even though elite athletes naturally figure out balance without it—unless they’re rehabbing an injury.
The Four Big Rocks of Performance Training
To build athleticism, programs need to prioritize:
Sprinting – varied distances and intensities depending on the season.
Explosive Plyometrics – lower body jumps to train power.
Medicine Ball Throws – upper body explosiveness.
Heavy Resistance Lifting – core compound lifts that drive strength.
These movements allow for progression in load, volume, and intensity—the factors that create long-term adaptation.
Where Correctives Belong
Correctives and PT-style work still matter. They can be included at the beginning or end of a workout to address specific athlete needs. But they should always supplement the program, not lead it.
By keeping training simple, raw, and intense, athletes can maximize their time in the weight room and transfer those gains onto the field.
🎙 Listen to This Episode on The Lewis Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab Podcast
Catch the full breakdown of why performance programs should focus on the “big rocks” and where corrective training really fits in.
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A6iBs0CzkAwSu9rUVPfGX?si=lrea2AaWQSy5USIT90KXhQ
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🎥 Watch the Full Breakdown on YouTube
Don’t miss the full breakdown on how true performance training should be structured for athletes.
▶️ Watch Now on YouTube
