Autoregulation is an art. It is a skill. Just like any other skill, it takes time, trial, and error to develop. As a refresher from the previous article, autoregulation relies on understanding the demands of training, recoverability, faith, and the current state of the body, and then being able to regulate and manipulate those variables as needed in order to continue to push the body forward to perform without getting injured.
It’s not as simple as working harder or getting stronger. Autoregulation is about being able to gather as much information as possible to assess the current situation and knowledge. The ability to autoregulate is also a big reason that average, sub-par, and exceptional coaches, athletes, and practitioners exist. If you have not read Part 3, “What is Autoregulation” yet, do so before moving forward.
Now that the four pillars of autoregulation have been defined, the objective can move towards how to apply this knowledge and autoregulate one’s training:
1. Learn to Pivot
2. Listen to Subjectivity; Create Objectivity
3. Keep a Database or Log 4. Recovery is a Tool -- Use it Wisely
5. Don't Be Afraid to Cycle Main Movements and/or Accessories
To read deeper into how to apply autoregulation, you can visit EliteFTS.com to read Dr. Detweiler's full article, Troubleshooting Strength Injuries: How to Autoregulate.