Which template to run question

Hey docs,

I posted here a while ago about a nerve compression issue I had. It really impaired my training for a major chunk of this year. I was out of the gym for a few months and when the doctor cleared me to start training again, I was doing so in a very handicapped manner. Basically, I could squat and deadlift okay but any type of pressing upper body work was exceedingly difficult (huge strength disparity on my right side).

While training through recovery, I elected to run the bodybuilding template. The reason it seemed attractive was all of the accessory/isolation work. I couldn’t bench or press normally (had to do all unilateral stuff with DBs and machines) but all of the isolation work like flyes and lateral raises still allowed me to achieve some upper body training stimulus while preserving squatting and deadlifting/variations.

Anyways, I’m nearly done with the third block of the bodybuilding template and I’m pretty much mostly recovered. I’m now sort of thinking of what to run next. I’d read before that if one had not been able to train “normally” for a significant amount of time, they should run the beginner template to reestablish their performance base.

However, since I have been training throughout the recovery process, albeit impaired, I was wondering if that was still the recommendation.

Thanks for answering my training questions all throughout my recovery process, guys. I really appreciate it.

I think if you haven’t been able to do any strength work (and want to) on your upper body and have recently been doing the BB template, I’d do the Beginner template from phase 2, The Bridge 1.0, or Powerbuilding I.

Glad you’re feeling better :slight_smile:

Fortunately, those templates are already in my possession. I’ll do some analysis/soul-searching and see what fits as a next step. I’m kind of leaning towards Powerbuilding I as I’ve really enjoyed the high volume of GPP work in the BB template. Thanks for the suggestions, Jordan!