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<\/p>\nWhen I was in graduate school I discovered in my readings, the differences between open-loop systems and closed-loop systems approach. I fell in love with the Open-loop systems descriptions in business and how it contrasted with the closed-loop. In this blog, I will explain what these systems are and how you likely operate in both but you need to invite the open-loop systems into your practice and perhaps your own training.<\/p>\n
A closed-loop system is as you might think — closed to the influence and energy of outside sources. While this seems efficient, in the long run- it is not. A closed-loop system is similar to the thermostat in your living space. The temperature goes down, it is detected by a thermometer. This is sent to an \u201cintegration center\u201d which processes the information and sends a signal to an \u201ceffector\u201d which would be a heater or air conditioner to \u201cturn on\u201d or not. In training, this might be where you train someone and they begin to get stronger with weights. Say you have them doing a bench press between 8 and 15 repetitions. Once they can do 15 reps easily, you \u201craise the weight\u201d and they no longer can do. Job done\u2026 or is it?<\/p>\n
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In an open-loop system, there is \u201cnew energy\u201d coming in and adaptations must take place. So when a tree is growing there is a normal system, where leaves go through photosynthesis, they make glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water they provide energy to the plant and everything is \u201chonkey-dory\u201d\u2026or is it?<\/p>\n
Actually, the leaves that were getting a high amount of light send a signal to the integrating center, and the leaves that were getting very low light also send a signal to the integrating center. The tree adjusts its growing pattern to maximize the light pattern. It was capable of adaptation. It was capable of pulling in new positive energy and adjusting the system to accommodate it, thus survive.<\/p>\n
Our bones must constantly have new incoming stimulus to grow or even \u201cstick around\u201d especially in older age. The natural process of the bones is to \u201close mineral density\u201d but by introducing new stimulus and the proper nutrients, you can maintain or even grow bone mass.<\/p>\n
To develop a system, you must include all 3 aspects of the homeostasis cycle. You must do an assessment to understand the current state of the client.<\/strong> This is a receptor or detector. If you don\u2019t have a good assessment system that is understood by the integration center, then the system is broken. If you do not understand the scientific background, then you as a trainer, are not a good integration center. Finally the effector. In the case of this analogy, the effector is exercise. Exercise will change the stimulus to the bone, thus it \u201ceffects\u201d the result.<\/p>\n In my Osteoporosis Fitness Specialist<\/a> online course, I provide a comprehensive assessment system using the ABCDEFF. It assesses someone\u2019s agility, balance, coordination, dexterity, endurance, force, and flexibility. Throw in someone\u2019s bone density (T-score) and if they have broken a bone, as well as a nutritional and medical intake and you have a really good picture of your client\u2019s status. From there, a solid education on bone physiology and how exercise influences bone physiology sets up the integration center. Finally, the exercise programs are highly adaptive to not only the location (gym, home, or park) but the level (1-4). Thus, great adaptability exists to allow new energy to flow into the system.<\/p>\n Assessments\u2026 most trainers are scared of this word, and many clients don\u2019t want to go through them. A good assessment should not be feared, and actually it should be embraced because it may give critical information to guide your training program. What if you went to the medical doctor and he or she just guessed at what you might have, and then gave you a drug or wanted to do surgery on you! You would think they are crazy! Why should setting up a training program be any different, especially for someone with a medical condition.<\/p>\nWebinar with Mark Kelly: Kick Some ‘Ass’essments!<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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