The Tempo Prescription Decision Tree

The 4-context decision tree for tempo prescription. Route every client × exercise to Eccentric Overload / Tendon Rehab / Novice Technique / Lengthened-Partial — or the evidence-supported Default of no tempo prescription. Optional roster audit up to 50 rows.

Persona & mode

60 seconds

The Decision Tree is calibrated for three trainer profiles. Confirm yours, then pick whether you're routing a single client × exercise or auditing your whole roster.

Calibration nudge

Start with Roster Audit mode. Your existing roster has 70-90% tempo-column population; the audit gets you to 20-30% in 2-4 hours.

Step 1 · Confirm your persona

Scaling Trainer Sam

28-38, 20-50+ async online clients. Every program template has a populated tempo column inherited from a mentor or PPL convention. Cannot defend most of those prescriptions when a client asks. Needs a deterministic 4-context tree, a 5-step audit drill, paste-template program notes, and monthly maintenance cadence.

Aspiring Trainer Amanda

22-30, first 10-20 clients, hybrid → going online. Told to "use tempo for hypertrophy" by every cert continuing-ed unit. Novice clients ignore the tempo; intermediates ask why she prescribes 3-1-1-0 instead of self-selected.

Fitness Enthusiast Eric (self-coached)

25-45, evidence-based self-coached lifter. Reads SBS / RP / Iron Culture / Schoenfeld. Has read the 2015 and 2024 papers but has no per-exercise rule for tempo prescription in his own programming.

Step 2 · Pick a mode

Single Client × Exercise

Run the 4-context decision tree on one client × exercise. Outputs the matched context, prescription, citation, and a paste-ready program note in 60-90 seconds.

Roster Audit (up to 50 rows)

Audit your whole book: enter client × exercise rows, see the distribution against the kit's typical 70-80% Default band, and export a CSV audit log.

Roster mode is optimized for desktop. On mobile, we recommend single-client mode first.

Related Tools

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4-block macrocycle per client

Pain-Modification Decision Tree

Per-check-in 4-factor cascade

Elite-Coach Decision Triage Card

Pre-program change protocol

The source article

Tempo Work for Hypertrophy: when it matters, when it doesn't. The Schoenfeld 2015 + 2024 reframe and the 4-context decision tree that operationalizes it on a roster.

Read the article

Evidence base

Schoenfeld 2015 — meta-analysis: effect of repetition duration during resistance training on muscle hypertrophy
Schoenfeld 2024 — ROM/tempo synthesis update
Roig 2009 — eccentric vs concentric meta-analysis
Douglas 2017 — supramaximal eccentric protocols in advanced lifters
Cook & Purdam 2009 — tendon-loading hierarchy: isometric → heavy slow → energy storage
Beyer 2015 — heavy slow resistance for patellar/Achilles tendinopathy
Wolf 2023 — lengthened partials meta-analysis
Maeo 2024 — partial vs full ROM
Schmidt & Lee — motor learning literature; specificity-of-practice

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