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Where is the "overload" to which the article refers? The article should state that the term "progressive overload" is a misnomer. The term is used to refer to situations in which overload (of the muscles) does not actually occur! If someone tears a muscle, then it can be said that overload occurred. But if you lift weights until "failure" (when you can't carry out any more reps), then you have not OVER-loaded the relevant muscle. You may have loaded it to its or your maximum capability. But that is not over loading.

An encyclopeadic account of the term should point out the inherent falsehood in the term, OR at least define with respect to exactly what the "over" part of the term "overload" refers. (E.g., if loading is relative to the typical loading that a person's muscles experiences throughout their normal life, then lifting weights could - perhaps - be loosely called overloading them.) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.185.122.167 (talk) 14:57, 13 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I'm concerned about the validity of the claim that the concept of Progressive Overload was "developed" by Thomas Delorme after the second World War. Are we implying that the bodybuilders and strongmen of the past like Eugen Sandow never understood the need for increase weights to build muscle mass? The idea has existed since Milo of Croton 2,600 years ago... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.185.158.104 (talk) 21:49, 9 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 22 August 2022 and 6 December 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Thrushy (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Thrushy (talk) 17:44, 1 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 20 January 2026 and 7 May 2026. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): TJohn10290 (article contribs). Peer reviewers: MushyApple1.

— Assignment last updated by CSU ENG PROF (talk) 21:23, 24 March 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, I am a new Wikipedia working on improving this article for a class assignment. I chose the “Progressive overload” page because I have some background knowledge in fitness and strength training, and I wanted to help make the information clearer and more useful for readers. I am planning to expand parts of the article by adding more detailed explanations of how progressive overload is applied in real workouts.I would like to include information about increasing weight, repetitions, intensity, and training frequency. I also plan to support these additions with reliable sources, including information from organizations like NASM and PubMed. My goal is to improve the clarity of the article and make it more practical for people who are trying to understand how to apply this concept. Please let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions before I make these edits. Thank you!

Progressive overload can be applied in several practical ways within a training program. Common methods include increasing the resistance (weight) used during an exercise, increasing the number of repetitions or sets performed, improving exercise intensity through reduced rest intervals, or increasing training frequency over time. These adjustments allow the body to continue adapting by introducing new levels of stress. Research suggests that both increases in training volume and intensity contribute to muscular adaptations, including strength gains and hypertrophy, when applied progressively and consistently. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38286426/

It is generally recommended that increases in training load are introduced gradually in order to reduce the risk of injury and allow adequate recovery. Fitness organizations such as the National Academy of Sports Medicine suggest that small, incremental increases in workload are more effective and sustainable than sudden large increases. https://blog.nasm.org/progressive-overload-explained BIancaYuliza (talk) 00:27, 25 April 2026 (UTC)[reply]