In which phase of the training process is the concept of progressive overload applied?

The concept of progressive overload is primarily applied in the strength training phase. This principle involves gradually increasing the demands placed on the body during training to continually make physiological adaptations that lead to improvements in strength, endurance, and muscle growth.

In the strength training phase, the practitioner systematically alters variables such as weight, repetitions, sets, or intensity to ensure that the muscles are consistently challenged. This consistent increment in workload encourages the muscles to adapt and grow stronger over time.

While aspects of progressive overload can be relevant in endurance training, flexibility training, and during recovery, these are not primarily focused on the systematic increases in physical workload that define the strength training phase. Endurance training emphasizes sustaining activity over longer durations, flexibility focuses on increasing the range of motion, and recovery aims at allowing the body to repair itself after exercise, which does not inherently apply the progressive overload concept as directly as in strength training.