Do you need to implement progressive overload to build muscle? In short…YES, but there is more to it than trying to lift heavier week after weight.
What about the other components of progressive overload that are often overlooked, like
-Manipulating Tempo
-Increase Volume
-Increase Frequency
Anything that puts more stress on a muscle, is the new stimulus needed for hypertrophy (muscle growth)
Exercise execution is also overlooked in pursuit of throwing around heavy loads. You maybe lifting heavier weights each week, but is the targeted muscle working less due to other muscles over compensating, causing in the breakdown of exercise execution. You need to lift heavier over time, but not to the detriment of technique.
Next time you hit a plateau, try manipulating other variables like tempo and frequency instead of adding more weight to the bar to create a new stimulus for your muscles.
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