As a strength athlete, there’s nothing quite as frustrating as hitting a plateau. You’ve been working hard, making progress, and then suddenly you hit a wall. No matter how hard you train, you can’t seem to get any stronger. The good news is that there are proven strategies you can use to break through that plateau and take your strength to the next level.

1. Change your training program

One of the most common reasons for hitting a plateau is simply that you’ve been doing the same thing for too long. Your body adapts to the exercise, and you stop making progress. To break that plateau, you need to shake up your training program. This might mean changing the sets and reps you do, varying exercises, or even doing completely different types of workouts.

2. Increase your training volume

Another way to break through a plateau is to increase your training volume. This means doing more work overall, either by adding more sets or reps to your workouts or by increasing the weight you lift. It’s important to do this progressively, though, so you don’t risk injury.

3. Improve your technique

Sometimes a plateau can be caused by poor lifting technique. Even small changes to your form can have a big impact on your overall strength. Working with a coach or trainer can help you identify places where you might be able to improve your technique and break through your plateau.

4. Focus on recovery

Recovery is just as important as training when it comes to building strength. If you’re not giving your body enough time to rest and recover between workouts, you might find yourself hitting a plateau. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking time to stretch and foam roll to help your muscles recover.

5. Try something new

If you’ve been doing the same types of exercises for a while, it might be time to try something new. Experimenting with new exercise modalities, like kettlebells or Olympic lifting, can help break through your plateau by challenging your muscles in new ways.

6. Set new goals

Finally, setting new goals can help you break through a plateau. Maybe you’ve been focusing on a specific lift for a long time and need some new motivation. By setting a new goal, like lifting a heavier weight or mastering a new exercise, you can push yourself to keep making progress and overcome your plateau.

Breaking through a strength plateau can be frustrating, but it’s not impossible. By changing your training program, increasing your training volume, improving your technique, focusing on recovery, trying new things, and setting new goals, you can take your strength to the next level. So don’t give up – with a little hard work and determination, you’ll be breaking records in no time.