METABOLIC FINISHERS FOR YOUR
CLIENTS – PRESENTED BY NARDIA NORMAN
BPhEd, Dip MT, Certified Health Coach
What is a Metabolic Finisher?
A MF is any combination of work done at the end of a session to ‘finish’ or
completely fatigue the client using smart methodologies. It is a fantastic way
to get a large amount of volume and intensity into short period of time.
Designed to optimize energy utilization and improve over all metabolic
conditioning MFs are the perfect tool to add value to your PT sessions.
They can range in length of time from 1 – 10 minutes.
Considerations when designing MF:
- The Basics: Your must consider your clients’ level of conditioning, their
biomechanics, movement capabilities, and the overall purpose of their
training session - You need to pick movements and loads that elicit the correct dose
response for the outcome you desire - Keep the exercise selection relative to the dose response needed; in
other words if the aim of the MF is to elicit more of a strength response
then choosing exercises that can be performed at heavier loads will be
more beneficial than choosing bodyweight exercises. Alternatively if
the goal of the MF is to work on aerobic conditioning or sports specific
conditioning then choose exercises that will obtain this (such as body
weight exercises, light loads or sports specific modalities such as
running). - Choose exercises that can be performed when in a fatigued state –
MFs are not the time to be using technical exercises such as snatch or
overhead squats!
