What is Progressive Resistance Training?

Progressive resistance training (PRT) is a specialized kind of weight training that helps to improve body response and capacity. All kinds of athletes and recreational fitness participants practice this type of training to get stronger and to help the body to handle larger challenges. Among methods of weight training, PRT is popular for helping individuals to burn calories; strengthen muscles, bones, and joints; and otherwise improve their overall health and fitness.

Resistance is the amount of challenge that the body handles during a given task. In PRT, that resistance is raised incrementally to help the body adapt to challenges. This kind of weight training can be done with free weights, variable weight machines, or other tools.

The idea behind this form of training is partially about allowing muscle groups to “max out,” or experience an “overload” situation, which is why it is sometimes called overload weight training. These kinds of challenges promote specific kinds of muscle development.

There are many methods for progressive resistance training, but the most popular one is to do “progressive sets.” In this kind of training, users start with a low weight, do several repetitions, and then add more weight to their machine or use a higher free weight to repeat the same activity. Other methods include doing more repetitions of an activity, waiting less time between activities, or otherwise upping the ante in challenges for the body’s muscle groups.

Part of the distinction of PRT is in looking at what’s needed for this kind of exercise. For most individuals, getting it into their routine requires joining a gym or health club because the specific tools that are needed for this kind of strength training are expensive, and most individuals find it more economical to use them collectively with a public gym membership, rather than buy them for their own private use.

For progressive resistance training, it’s necessary to have a variety of weight loads for a given activity. This means either a large array of dumbbells or barbells, or full-size gym machines with adaptable plate loaded weights. With some exceptions, like a simple pressing bench with barbell plates, most of this kind of equipment is found in gyms. Gym members can also get specific information from dedicated personal trainers in order to make sure that they are pursuing their PRT in a correct way to avoid muscle injury or other kinds of injury.