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Exploring the Viability of Encouraging Person-Adaptive Exercise During a 2-Week Microcycle: A Mixed-Method Study of
Kelley Strohacker1, Adam H Ibrahim1, Cory T Beaumont2
1Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Abstract:
Flexible nonlinear periodization (FNLP) is a form of exercise programming that encourages individuals to acutely match exercise demand to their physical and mental resource availability. It is unclear how exercise is chosen and experienced by individuals following this invitation. This mixed-method study aimed to understand the viability of FNLP-based exercise. Twenty-four participants initiated pre- and postexercise surveys when asked to engage in FNLP for 14 days. Each participant was interviewed to review visualized survey data and elaborate on reasonings for and consequences of their decisions. Integrated quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate patterns of meaning. Resource-concordant decisions were perceived to support recovery, training overload, and novel activities. Resource-discordant decisions were made to distract from stressors, for social engagement, or in response to self-imposed expectations. Experiences were neither universally pleasant nor unpleasant. Findings begin to disentangle the complexity of exercise behavior and inform FNLP refinement.
