Back to Performance
Performance

PeriodizationEvidence & Dosage

Linear, undulating, block — structured training planning.

Evidence at a glance

Total studies
725
With abstract
50
Meta / Systematic / RCT
3
Highly cited
50
Publication years
1977–2026

Periodization in the context of Performance

This topic is part of our "Performance" world. There you'll find methodology, evidence and the highest-impact levers — plus the order in which they sensibly build on each other.

Go to Performance

Top studies on Periodization

Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.

  1. Applied physiology and game analysis of rugby union.

    Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2003147 influential citations

    Increased professionalism in rugby has elicited rapid changes in the fitness profile of elite players. Recent research, focusing on the physiological and anthropometrical characteristics of rugby players, and the demands of competition are…

  2. The bioenergetics of World Class Cycling.

    Journal of science and medicine in sport200096 influential citations

    Professional cycle racing is one of the most demanding of all sports combining extremes of exercise duration, intensity and frequency. Riders are required to perform on a variety of surfaces (track, road, cross-country, mountain), terrains…

  3. Physical and training characteristics of top-class marathon runners.

    Medicine and science in sports and exercise200192 influential citations

    <h4>Purpose</h4>This study compares the physical and training characteristics of top-class marathon runners (TC), i.e., runners having a personal best of less than 2 h 11 min for males and 2 h 32 min for females, respectively, versus…

  4. Endurance and strength training for soccer players: physiological considerations.

    Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)200492 influential citations

    Top soccer players do not necessarily have an extraordinary capacity in any of the areas of physical performance. Soccer training is largely based on the game itself, and a common recruitment pattern from player to coach and manager…

  5. A framework for understanding the training process leading to elite performance.

    Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)200387 influential citations

    The development of performance in competition is achieved through a training process that is designed to induce automation of motor skills and enhance structural and metabolic functions. Training also promotes self-confidence and a…

  6. Changes in exercise performance and hormonal concentrations over a big ten soccer season in starters and nonstarters.

    Journal of strength and conditioning research2004n=1480 influential citations

    As a consequence of the physiological demands experienced during a competitive soccer season, the antagonistic relationship between anabolic and catabolic processes can affect performance. Twenty-five male collegiate soccer players were…

  7. Time course of performance changes and fatigue markers during intensified training in trained cyclists.

    Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)2002n=33872 influential citations

    To study the cumulative effects of exercise stress and subsequent recovery on performance changes and fatigue indicators, the training of eight endurance cyclists was systematically controlled and monitored for a 6-wk period. Subjects…

  8. Physiological changes in male competitive cyclists after two weeks of intensified training.

    International journal of sports medicine199271 influential citations

    To study the physiological response to heavy training, seven male competitive cyclists intensified their normal training program for two weeks (IIT) in order to achieve a state of short-term overtraining. The subjects underwent a graded…

  9. Physical fitness qualities of professional rugby league football players: determination of positional differences.

    Journal of strength and conditioning research2001n=10168 influential citations

    A total of 146 professional rugby league football players, contracted to 2 teams competing in England (n = 45) and Australia (n = 101), participated in this study. All players completed the following series of physical fitness performance…

  10. Monitoring the lactate threshold in world-ranked swimmers.

    Medicine and science in sports and exercise200167 influential citations

    <h4>Purpose</h4>To determine whether lactate profiling could detect changes in discrete aspects of endurance fitness in world-ranked swimmers during a season.<h4>Methods</h4>Eight male and four female Australian National Team swimmers aged…

Related articles

Knowledge

Is there an app or platform to help me boost my performance?

Performance apps are goal-specific: for physical performance (strength, endurance): Whoop (recovery focus), Garmin (all-rounder), TrainingPeaks (structured training planning). For mental/cognitive performance: sleep trackers (Oura), study AI (Biohacking AI) for evidence-based optimization questions. Apps alone don't boost — they make visible whether your actions produce the adaptations you expect.

More topics in Performance

Amphetamines

Stimulants, off-label ADHD use, cognitive vs. physical effects.

Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids — medical and doping aspects, risks.

ATP System

Phosphagen system, anaerobic glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation.

Beetroot / Nitrate

NO synthase bypass, endurance and altitude adaptation.

Beta-Alanine

Carnosine, high intensity, tingling, and dosage regimens.

Carbohydrate Periodization

Train‑Low, Glycogen Adaptation, and Performance Outcomes.

Citrulline Malate

NO precursor, pump and endurance studies.

Competition Mentality

Arousal regulation, visualization, routines under pressure.

Cool-down

Active recovery, light movement, bringing heart rate down.

Deload

Planned recovery periods — avoiding overreaching.

EAAs / BCAAs

Muscle protein synthesis, anti-catabolic, and leucine threshold.

Electrolytes

Sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride — hydration and performance.

EMS Training

Electrical muscle stimulation — marketing vs. actual effect sizes.

Endurance

Aerobic base, lactate threshold, VO2max, polarized training.

Flexibility

Static vs. dynamic stretching, PNF, mobility vs. flexibility.

Focus Music

Lo-fi, Brain.fm, classical music — effects and individual variation.

HMB

Sarcopenia, Anti-Catabolic, and Sports Applications

Hypertrophy

Muscle-growth mechanisms, volume/intensity/frequency, protein timing.

Intra-Workout

Carbohydrates during training — indicated for long cardio sessions.

Lactate

Fuel, not a waste product — modern lactate research.

Related topics from other worlds

Methods

Insulin Sensitivity Nutrition

Nutrition strategies for improved insulin sensitivity: macronutrient timing, fiber, polyphenols, and the evidence base for metabolic health.

Methods

Loneliness

A cardiovascular and mental health risk — and what to do about it.

Methods

Microplastics

Ubiquitous exposure, sources, possible health effects.

Methods

Nutrigenomic Nutrition

Personalized nutrition via gene variation: SNPs, methylation, MTHFR, and how genetic profiles inform vitamin and diet strategies.

Methods

Remote Work

Isolation, boundaries, movement deficit, routines.

Methods

Strength Training

Hypertrophy, sarcopenia prevention, volume vs intensity.