The Performance Paradigm is the foundation for training and rehab. If you break down movement to it’s essential components you arrive at the performance paradigm. Every movement has a force reduction phase that leads to a force production phase. The glue that holds it all together is the proprioception. Each phase of the movement is highly trainable and adaptable, efficiency of movement is the result when the three phases time up and coordinate. Over the years I have learned to use this paradigm to analyze the movements that I am training and then determine the composition and direction of the training. It is easy to get stuck on the force production phase because that is most visible and measurable, but the limiting factor in performance and the major cause of injuries is what happens in the force reduction phase. It is force reduction that the highest loads occur; it is during this phase that gravity wins. Last but not least is the proprioception / stabilization component, this is easy to overlook until there is an injury or performance error. This is highly trainable but is best trained in conjunction with the other two components. This is a simple paradigm with complex implications. Take another look at what you are doing from the perspective of the performance paradigm. Use the Performance Paradigm to guide your training and your athletes will be ready for anything that will occur in a game.
