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Terms like “tolerance” and “capacity” get thrown around a lot these days in the worlds of reconditioning and performance. Oftentimes, there can be quite a bit of confusion as they are often cited incorrectly or interchangeably. We pose the question: in this particular instance, do semantics matter? Providing clean definitions and examples of these concepts allows us to decide in which circumstances one term may be most pertinent and how that determination may influence decision making.

Let’s begin with this idea of tolerance, which is often also referred to as “tissue tolerance.”

When considering the term tolerance, I start with a very simple question: “Can they do it?”

In other words, can the individual perform a desired activity or intervention? Additionally, if they can do it, are there any undesirable consequences or pain associated with the activity during or immediately following?

These questions become extremely important as they become a gauge of whether or not the individual has the capability to perform the desired activity at the predetermined intensity. If they cannot perform, or if they have a major increase in symptom onset or have to utilize a compensatory offloading strategy, they can be said to be lacking tolerance to that specific activity.

Limitations in tolerance may be due to a multitude of factors such as heightened acuity of tissue sensitivity, muscular inhibition, localized swelling, tissue damage, and force generation deficits.

SOURCE:

https://rehab2perform.com/news/tolerance-vs-capacity/