Understanding the Vital Distinction Between Biomechanical and Neurological Training: The Top 5 Differences

Confused if a neurological education will enhance your training? Here are the 5 distinct differences that distinguish neurological from biomechanical training, each offering unique benefits for your fitness journey.

In the world of fitness and strength training, there's a fundamental concept that often gets overlooked but can make all the difference in your training outcomes: the difference between biomechanical and neurological training. These two approaches are distinct in their focus and methodologies, and understanding this difference is crucial for achieving your fitness goals efficiently and effectively. 

But only one makes the other work remarkably better, just like it was intended.

Biomechanical Training

Biomechanical training primarily revolves around the mechanics of the body or everything below the neck.  It's all about form, muscle strength, joint stability, and physical performance.

In biomechanical training, you'll often find exercises aimed at perfecting your technique, increasing your muscle mass, and improving your overall physical capabilities.

The industry has done a great job of adapting the biomechanical approach to work with pain and decrease pain.   What everyone has found is that it only goes so far and does not help with chronic pain and usually the pain the biomechanical approach helps is very temporary.  Usually, this approach does not attend to the areas of the brain that need to be worked so that the brain does the work without thought.

Neurological Training

On the other hand, neurological training takes a completely different route. It's centered on how your brain perceives and responds to different movements and exercises. It's not just about what your body can do, but about how your nervous system processes the tasks you perform.

This approach emphasizes threat perception, real-time assessment, and adaptability.

Why Understanding the Difference Matters:

1. Training Efficiency: Knowing the distinction between these two approaches can significantly improve your training efficiency. Biomechanical training can help you build strength and perfect your form, but it may not provide the immediate feedback that neurological training can offer.

The real-time feedback the neurological approach gives you is immediate.  Clients SEE and FEEL the changes immediately and they will remain.

2. Real-Time Adaptation:  Neurological training enables you to assess and reassess in real-time. This means you can make adjustments on the fly, ensuring that your training sessions are always headed in the right direction. No more waiting weeks or months for changes.

This takes #1 and puts it on steroids because we use the same thought process for body change during the session so we know if what we have just prescribed was correct.

3. Minimal Effective Dose: Understanding neurological training also introduces you to the concept of the "minimal effective dose."

This means that you're not wasting your time on exercises that don't bring about the desired results. Instead, you're focusing on the right amount of stimulus to create positive adaptations.

These crucial points lead to something we talk about a lot; are your clients leaving the session better than they came in?

I know what you are thinking, they just exercised, they are better, but are they?  How many people have lingering issues, and how many get hurt over time?

The nervous system does not lie and you know immediately.

4. Tailored Training: One size does not fit all in training. Recognizing the neurological aspect allows you to tailor your workouts to your individual needs, making your training programs more efficient and effective, with a more personalized approach that leads them to faster results.

5. Client Buy-In: For coaches and trainers, understanding and implementing neurological training and real-time reassessment can lead to greater client buy-in.

When clients see immediate results and understand the purpose behind each exercise, they're more likely to stay motivated and committed.

In conclusion, grasping the difference between biomechanical and neurological training is the key to unlocking your full potential in the fitness world. It's about optimizing your workouts, getting the most out of each session, and making training a tailored, adaptable, and rewarding experience.

Whether you're an athlete, a coach, or someone on your fitness journey, understanding this distinction can be the game-changer that elevates your performance and results. So, remember, it's not just about what you do in the gym; it's about how your brain responds to it.

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