<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Study aim: Mathematical models of the relationship between training and performance facilitate the design of training protocols to achieve performance goals. However, current linear models do not account for nonlinear physiological effects such as saturation and over-training. This severely limits their practical applicability, especially for optimizing training strategies. This study describes, analyzes, and applies a new nonlinear model to account for these physiological effects. Material and methods: This study considers the equilibria and step response of the nonlinear differential equation model to show its characteristics and trends, optimizes training protocols using genetic algorithms to maximize performance by applying the model under various realistic constraints, and presents a case study fitting the model to human performance data. Results: The nonlinear model captures the saturation and over-training effects; produces realistic training protocols with training progression, a high-intensity phase, and a taper; and closely fits the experimental performance data. Fitting the model parameters to subsets of the data identifies which parameters have the largest variability but reveals that the performance predictions are relatively consistent. Conclusions: These findings provide a new mathematical foundation for modeling and optimizing athletic training routines subject to an individual’s personal physiology, constraints, and performance goals.</p></abstract>

Study aim: Mathematical models of the relationship between training and performance facilitate the design of training protocols to achieve performance goals. However, current linear models do not account for nonlinear physiological effects such as saturation and over-training. This severely limits their practical applicability, especially for optimizing training strategies. This study describes, analyzes, and applies a new nonlinear model to account for these physiological effects. Material and methods: This study considers the equilibria and step response of the nonlinear differential equation model to show its characteristics and trends, optimizes training protocols using genetic algorithms to maximize performance by applying the model under various realistic constraints, and presents a case study fitting the model to human performance data. Results: The nonlinear model captures the saturation and over-training effects; produces realistic training protocols with training progression, a high-intensity phase, and a taper; and closely fits the experimental performance data. Fitting the model parameters to subsets of the data identifies which parameters have the largest variability but reveals that the performance predictions are relatively consistent. Conclusions: These findings provide a new mathematical foundation for modeling and optimizing athletic training routines subject to an individual’s personal physiology, constraints, and performance goals.

A nonlinear model for the characterization and optimization of athletic training and performance

Biomedical Human Kinetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Study aim: Mathematical models of the relationship between training and performance facilitate the design of training protocols to achieve performance goals....

A nonlinear model for the characterization and optimization of athletic training and performance

Published Online: Jul 19, 2017

Page range: 82 - 93

Received: Mar 07, 2017

Accepted: Jun 05, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/bhk-2017-0013

Keywords
Training - Fitness - Fatigue - Dynamical systems - Optimization

© James D. Turner, Michael J. Mazzoleni, Jared A. Little, Dane Sequeira, Brian P. Mann

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

A nonlinear model for the characterization and optimization of athletic training and performance

Published Online: Jul 19, 2017

Page range: 82 - 93

Received: Mar 07, 2017

Accepted: Jun 05, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/bhk-2017-0013

KeywordsTraining - Fitness - Fatigue - Dynamical systems - Optimization

© James D. Turner, Michael J. Mazzoleni, Jared A. Little, Dane Sequeira, Brian P. Mann

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Training - Fitness - Fatigue - Dynamical systems - Optimization