Resistance = Resonance

Understanding the resonance of different types of resistance transforms how we, as strength practitioners, approach training.

Click to watch the waves fluctuate. Source

Resistance = Resonance

Basic neurophysiology enables us to know that the nervous system perceives resistance through mechanoreceptors embedded in connective tissues. These specialized receptors convert mechanical stimuli—such as tension, pressure, or stretch—into electrical signals that are encoded by the nervous system. When resistance is applied to connective tissues, it propagates through the internal environment like a wave moving through water.

Ocean Analogy

Imagine standing in the ocean as a wave splashes into you. Although you remain stationary upon impact, you can still feel the wave's force and direction. In this analogy, you represent a mechanoreceptor, detecting the resonance of the wave as the energy travels through the ocean—just as mechanoreceptors sense the resonance of resistance traveling through connective tissues. This flow of information is then relayed to the nervous system, enabling it to 'feel' and respond appropriately to the load.

Mechanical Information Flow

Recall that the brain and spinal cord is housed within the skull and vertebral column and rely’s entirely on mechanoreceptors to perceive forces imparted onto the body. These specialized receptors, embedded within connective tissues, behave as intermediaries by detecting mechanical stimuli— tension, pressure, and stretch—and converting those stimuli into electrical signals. It is through this process that the central nervous system's (CNS) can 'feel' forces.

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