What Is Conditioning (and What Is It Not)?

Definition
Conditioning is the systematic development of physiological capacities that support sustained physical work, including aerobic capacity, work capacity, and fatigue resistance.

What Conditioning Includes
Conditioning involves structured exposure to metabolic and mechanical stress designed to improve energy production, recovery, and tolerance to repeated effort.

What Conditioning Is Not
Conditioning is not random high-intensity exercise, punishment workouts, or excessive fatigue accumulation without purpose.

Why It Matters
Proper conditioning improves performance sustainability and resilience across a wide range of tasks and environments.

Practical Implications
Effective conditioning is planned, progressive, and aligned with the athlete’s overall training objectives rather than isolated from them.

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