At NEX, we believe that exercise science should be the foundation of any physical intervention. Scientific research provides us with a vast amount of information that can be translated into good practices, recommended for their level of evidence and relevance. Our aim is to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and conscious exercise practice.
The Impact of Stress on the Body and the Concept of Conscious Exercise
The various physiological systems of the human body work in perfect harmony, but any chronic disruption of this homeostasis can have negative effects. This is precisely what happens with an exercise programme: a momentary, intentional and controlled disruption aimed at bringing about adaptations. However, human physiology has limits, which vary from person to person. When exposed to a certain level of ‘stress’, an inherently physiological stimulus, the body adapts to it. If the stress is adequate, i.e. if the stimulus is specific and of the right magnitude, the adaptation will be positive. On the other hand, if this stimulus is inappropriate and excessive, the consequences could be harmful - in the short, medium or long term.
The question remains: what is the ideal stimulus? The answer lies in recognising the tolerance threshold. In human biology, an organism's tolerance threshold is defined by its ability to tolerate, up to a specific point, a disruption to its homeostasis. Recognising this range is also the beginning of promoting conscious exercise.
Another fundamental aspect of promoting conscious exercise is dose-response efficiency. Using an example from pharmacology: if an inadequate dose of a drug tends to be ineffective, a high dose is potentially dangerous. In the case of exercise, the effect is similar: if a stimulus is insufficient, it tends not to promote the expected adaptation, while a high dose of it tends to be harmful. So what is the ideal dose of exercise and how do you calculate it? The answer varies according to the physiology of the person we are considering.
In the NEX Performance® methodology, we seek a reliable answer to the above question by analysing the following:
What is the student's goal? Health, aesthetics, sports performance or rehabilitation?
What is their starting point? Sedentary, occasionally active or regularly active?
What are their real training needs?
What is your body's availability (your tolerance threshold)?
These questions help us to lay the foundations for a conscious exercise programme, tailoring it to the student's real needs.
The Basis of Everything: Critical and Objective Evaluation
The NEX Performance® Methodology begins with a careful and personalised evaluation. In addition to detailed questions, we use state-of-the-art dynamometers, the latest technology recognised for its reliability and precision in quantifying muscle strength and joint mobility. This technology is used in scientific research and allows us to rigorously assess the availability of the neuro-musculoskeletal system.
The data we collect gives us a clear and objective view of the student's/patient's physical state. By identifying muscle imbalances, strength and mobility limitations, we can create an individualised training plan focused on specific goals and needs. This personalisation, based on scientific data, is the key to effective and efficient intervention.
Evidence-Based Practices: The Key to Real Results
After the evaluation, the real transformation begins. At NEX, we don't follow closed or uncritical methods. Our approach is based on evidence-based practices, principles of anatomy, exercise physiology and neuromuscular function. This differentiated approach ensures that training respects the limits and capacities of the human body, allowing us to achieve sustainable, safer and more effective results, whether in the context of sports performance, rehabilitation or general health.
Note: At NEX, we redefine precision in human performance. Conscious exercise is only possible with a deep understanding of exercise science and conservative intervention that respects individual limits. The NEX Performance® Methodology adapts to each person, recognising that the limits of physical tolerance are not in us, but in the other - in the student, the athlete, the person seeking health and well-being.
Good training!
Professor Eduardo André
Exercise Physiologist
Degree in Physical Education and Sport
Master in Exercise and HealthPostgraduate in Cardiac Rehabilitation
NEX Performance® Methodology Mentor
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