In resistance training, what does "progressive overload" refer to?

Progressive overload refers to the principle of gradually increasing the weight or resistance used during resistance training to enhance muscular strength, endurance, and overall fitness levels. This concept is fundamental in exercise programming as it ensures that the muscles are consistently challenged, which is necessary for growth and adaptation. By progressively increasing the resistance, whether through adding more weight, increasing the number of repetitions, or altering other training variables, the body responds to these stresses by building strength and mass.

This principle is rooted in the body's physiological response to stress; it needs new stimuli to keep adapting and improving. Consistently applying progressive overload not only helps avoid plateaus in performance but also reduces the risk of injury by allowing the body to adjust to the increasing demands gradually. Therefore, regularly increasing resistance or difficulty is key to effective resistance training programs.