T/F time is better than sets and reps in training approaches for persistent pain?

Prepare for the Tissue Injury, Healing, and Pain Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ensure you're ready for the exam!

In persistent pain, the way we dose loading matters more than counting reps. Time-based loading focuses on how long tissues are loaded or how long a hold is held, which lets you tailor the dose to the individual’s current tolerance and pain response.

This approach supports gradual, graded exposure. By extending or increasing the duration of loading tasks rather than simply adding more repetitions, you can advance the stimulus while keeping pain within a manageable window. That helps desensitize the nervous system and improve tissue capacity without provoking painful flare-ups or fear of movement.

Fixed sets and reps assume a uniform workload, but pain and fatigue can make that impossible to achieve safely in persistent pain. Reps can become limited by pain, making progress inconsistent, whereas time under load provides a more reliable, adjustable measure of progression and adherence across sessions.

So, prioritizing time-based progression gives a safer, more customizable way to build tolerance and function in persistent pain, making it the better approach.