The Specificity of Training: Case Study #1 - Golf

Good morning class, and welcome back to Training Physiology 101. Today we continue our discussion of an important training principle, the principle of SPECIFICITY.

This principle states that training adaptation is specific to the training stimulus. In other words, training stress must mirror the stress required in one's sport. Hence, the marathon runner runs long distances at sub-maximal pace, a miler runs repeat 400's at mile pace, a sprinter practices accelerating to top speed, and so on.

In today's case study, we consider the experience of a 49-year-old male distance runner who endeavors to play 18 holes of golf with his 20-year old son. The 49-year-old -- we'll refer to him as "J" trains approximately one hour daily. Approximately 85% of this training is aerobic running, i.e., relatively easy running carried out at 70-75% of VO2 Max. The remainder of J's training consists of a variety of faster running. Conspicuously absent from J's regimen is anything having to do with golf. In fact, J has not swung a golf club for ten months, and last completed a round of golf in 2002. J's son, on the other hand, plays a full round about once a week.

While J tees off on the first hole, he can't help noticing the portly figures of the golfers waiting in the next group. One can imagine his inward satisfaction of being in much better shape than these aging fatties.

However, we must keep in mind the specificity principle. While J's aerobic capacity is, indeed, superior to his fellow golfers, including his son, golf is not likely to test his aerobic capacity. J's golfing capacity, on the other hand, is minimal.

Thus we observe that by the fourth hole, J is beginning to experience aches, pains, and fatigue in arms, shoulders, and hips. Indeed, J is rather surprised to find that his right knee, which must rotate rather sharply leading into the low point of the swing, is starting to hurt. In the scientific literature, it is customary to refer to J's condition as "having long day written all over it."

The portly golfers following J show little sign of fatigue or discomfort through the first nine holes, while J can be seen trying to stretch his calf, his back, and his hip. At the same time, we can see that J's shots are becoming more and more erratic, presumably the result of localized fatigue in the muscles responsible for the swing.

It is instructive to note that J's son actually seems to be taking more effective swings as the round goes on. Perhaps this is the result of a practice effect, undisturbed by premature fatigue. J's son also shows no sign of mental distress, as he can be observed making increasingly frequent jokes on the subject of his father's difficulties.

Now, finally we observe the last two holes. It is clear that J's aerobic fitness has enabled him to walk around the course without unduly tiring his leg muscles. However, since he can barely lift his arms above shoulder height, we may presume that lack of specificity of training - failing to swing a golf club -- is responsible.

That concludes our case study. We may remark that J was back out and running a couple of days later with no apparent ill effects. His pride, however was severely damaged and is not expected to recover any time soon.