The Emergence of Biological Bottlenecks: We Are In The Reactive Strength Paradigm

Biological Bottlenecks: Objective Evidence That We Are In A New Training Paradigm

Nick Bosa: an athlete whose career has been constrained by biological bottlenecks. Read more on the anatomical challenges affecting the edge rusher. Source

Pushing The Limits of Human Output Past The Edge of Chaos

The evolution of strength training has been shaped by paradigm shifts¹ that redefine how strength practitioners enhance human performance. One of the most transformative was the neurological paradigm, ushered in by Louie Simmons. By integrating band tension resistance into maximal and dynamic effort methods, Simmons revolutionized the field of Training Science, exponentially scaling up the human nervous system's ability to generate and output maximal magnitudes of force at the highest velocities. This breakthrough in overcoming neurological stagnation propelled his powerlifters to break new ground and generate unprecedented performance levels, producing more all-time world records than any other coach in the sport.

However, like all advancements, this neurological scaling brought unintended consequences. The rapid enhancement of athletes’ nervous systems outpaced the ability of their biological tissues to transmit these forces without tissue failure. This asymmetry between neurological output and the connective tissue's capacity to transmit that output creates what we at Absolute call biological bottlenecks.

These bottlenecks, which emerge as reactive strength injuries, are the natural outcome of pushing beyond neurological stagnation without addressing biological tissue limitations.²

Asymmetrical Neurological-Biological relationship leading to reactive strength injury. Notice the asymmetry of how the top-down neurology is larger than the bottom-up biology.

Defining Biological Bottlenecks in Connective Tissues