Load management is a term that now has a cloud hanging around it, as commentators such as Charles Barkley are knocking it. The reality is that load management for athletes was never meant to sit players out; it’s intended to keep you playing and performing when it matters most. This article will answer the question: What is load management? It will dispel the myths or “nopes” surrounding the topic and demonstrate how load management can be used positively.

What Is Load Management in Sports?

Load is defined as a stressor. There are intentional stressors that an athlete faces, such as practice or a training session. Plus, stressors that occur as part of life, such as community life, family dynamics, work stressors, etc. All of these factors, both intentional stressors and the ones that come up in life, = load.

The athlete’s ability to encounter and adapt to the stressor signifies their loadability. If the load (stressor), outweighs your ability to adapt (loadability), the risk of injury increases significantly [Other factors related to injury, Here, and Here].

Now, the “management” part of load management is using insights and implementing strategies that help reach a common goal. For athletes, this tends to be the ability to compete. In sports as a whole, the best ability is availability.

Putting this all together, load management is an insightful strategy that monitors an athlete’s ability to encounter and adapt to stressors with the ultimate goal of decreasing injuries AND keeping you performing at the highest level possible.

Why Load Management is Not Lazy

I can see the old school mentality that professional athletes should not rest or sit out if they are not injured. We embody Michael Jordan’s perspective that if I can play, I’m going to play—someone in the top row spent hard-earned money to watch, and I owe them my best effort.

I also see the fan perspective. Imagine paying for a ticket to see your favorite player and then come game time you find out they are sitting, not due to an injury, but for “load management.” Ah, the frustration!

But let’s visit the athlete’s perspective. The athlete in us always wants to play, and being sidelined even for one game puts one of the most sour tastes in our mouths. No professional, or even serious amateur, voluntarily wants to sit out. Think of all the hard work that goes into preparation. Despite the “find joy in the journey” mantras, let’s be honest: the game is where the fun happens. You don’t have to find joy while playing; the act of being on the court, ice, field, or track is the joy itself. All of that being said, it’s hard to conclude that athletes sit out because they are lazy.

Why Do Athletes Sit Out For Load Management Reasons

Let’s introduce the sports science, human performance, and sports rehab perspective. As a whole, our goal is not to sit players out. Heck, we want to see them play as much as you do, if not more! With the introduction of improved strategies to collect data related to load and loadability also came the ability to make better decisions with the athlete. When an athlete is told to sit out, it’s because there is enough metrics showing that if they played, a serious injury is likely to happen. The risk of playing outweighs the benefit.

That risk-to-benefit ratio also respects factors such as early-season vs championship games.

How You Can Use Load Management For Performance And Recovery

In today’s wellness world, it’s easy to get caught up in one side of the equation or recovery strategies: foam rolling, cryotherapy, compression boots, while forgetting the other half of the equation: the stressor. Recovery matters, yes, but without appropriately applied stress, performance gains don’t happen.

Load management starts with asking the right questions about the stress the athlete is under:

• Is the stressor at an appropriate level? Too little, and the body won’t adapt. Too much, and the risk of injury or overtraining skyrockets.

• Does the athlete have the built-up capacity to handle the load? Referencing your ability to adapt to the load. If you are struggling to adapt, you either need to decrease the stressor or improve adaptability.
  • Improving adaptability goes further than superficial techniques like a cold plunge, mashing your tissues with a foam roller, or detoxes. It is found in strategies that truly improve your spirit and mind.
    • Join other athletes gaining a performance edge by strengthening their spirit and mind in Reclaimed Athlete.

• How much additional stress is optimal for growth? The sweet spot is where performance improves without increasing injury risk.

• When does more stress become counterproductive? Overtraining or piling on too much too soon leads to diminishing returns and sometimes even regression.

Quick Tips For Athletes Using Load Management

Tip	How To Capture	What To Implement
For running: log your mileage, distance, and pacing For throwing: log # of throws and % effort For skating: log time on ice, distance covered, % sprinting, % light skating	For running: log your mileage, distance, pacing For throwing: log # of throws and % effort For skating: log time on ice, distance covered, % sprinting, % light skating	Only track the stressors that are important to your goals/sports. Focus on variables related to the needed capacity for your sport. *** Note: Doubling your current load vs the previous load increases the risk of injury by 20%. Make sure to progress appropriately.
Only track the stressors that are important to your goals/sports. Focus on variables related to the needed capacity for your sport. *** Note: Doubling your current load vs the previous load increases the risk of injury by 20%. Make sure to progress appropriately.	Develop body introception or awareness. Use a scale or simple questionnaire to log: What level of soreness do I have? How ready to perform do I feel?	Adjust intensity and/or volume to decrease the stressor as needed. Improve loadability by implementing recovery strategies that move the needle forward (Check out Reclaimed Athlete)

True load management isn’t just about reducing or eliminating stress; it’s about applying the right stress at the right time and pairing it with intentional recovery. Think of it as a balance between challenge and restoration, where each component serves the athlete’s long-term performance and health.

FAQ: Athlete Questions Related To Load Management

1. What is load management in sports?

Load management is the process of balancing training and recovery to optimize performance and reduce injury risk. It involves monitoring how much physical and mental stress an athlete experiences and adjusting accordingly to stay healthy and perform consistently.

2. Does load management mean training less?

Not necessarily. Load management isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing smarter. The goal is to apply the right amount of stress for growth while avoiding overtraining. It’s about training hard and recovering well.

3. How does load management actually help athletes perform better?

By balancing stress and recovery, load management keeps athletes in the “sweet spot” where performance improves and injury risk stays low. It allows for steady, consistent progress without burnout—so athletes can perform at a higher level when it matters most.

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Author:

Dr. Dillon Caswell, PT, DPT, SCS

Doctor of Physical Therapy | Board Certified Sports Specialist

Hope Evangelist | Top-Selling Author & Speaker | Human Performance Expert