Where Sports Science Meets Real-World Training.
The ElitePTS Research Hub is our commitment to transparency. Every recommendation we make — every program we design, every tool we build, every article we publish — is grounded in peer-reviewed sports science research. Here you will find our article library organized by category, the Peak Performance Database, and the research principles that guide our methodology. We do not ask you to take our word for it. We show you the evidence.
Evidence-Based ResearchThe fitness industry has an evidence problem. We are here to fix it.
The fitness industry is built on anecdote, marketing, and tradition. Walk into any commercial gym and you will see people performing exercises they learned from a YouTube video, following programs they downloaded from a fitness influencer's website, and taking supplements recommended by someone who gets paid to recommend them. Very little of what passes for fitness knowledge is actually grounded in research.
This would not matter if the stakes were low. But they are not. Training with poor form causes injuries. Following inappropriate programs wastes months of effort. Taking untested supplements can harm your health. And perhaps most insidiously, following bad advice erodes your trust in the training process itself — leading many people to give up on fitness entirely after a string of disappointing results.
ElitePTS was founded on a different premise: that fitness guidance should be held to the same standard as any other field that affects human health and performance. That means citing sources, interpreting research honestly, updating recommendations when evidence changes, and being transparent about what we know and what we do not. The Research Hub is where we put that commitment into practice.
Explore our article library by topic.
Our article library covers six primary categories, each containing in-depth, research-backed articles written by our coaching team. Every article cites its sources and is reviewed for accuracy before publication.
Training Science
Peer-reviewed research on resistance training, periodization, volume, intensity, and progression models for strength and hypertrophy.
120+ articlesNutrition & Metabolism
Evidence on macronutrient metabolism, nutrient timing, supplementation, body composition, and metabolic adaptation to training.
95+ articlesRecovery & Longevity
Research on sleep, recovery modalities, HRV, overtraining syndrome, and long-term health outcomes of exercise.
70+ articlesMindset & Coaching
Studies on motivation, behavior change, habit formation, and the psychology of athletic performance and coaching effectiveness.
55+ articlesApplied Foundations
Practical applications of exercise science — biomechanics, movement screening, exercise selection, and program design methodology.
80+ articlesTools & Resources
Assessment tools, calculators, and measurement protocols for tracking progress and quantifying training variables.
100+ toolsHow we evaluate and apply research.
Not all research is created equal, and even good research can be misinterpreted. These four principles guide how we evaluate studies, interpret findings, and translate them into practical recommendations.
Peer-Reviewed Sources
We cite peer-reviewed research from recognized journals — not blogs, not YouTube videos, not fitness influencer opinions. Our references are verifiable.
Practical Translation
Research is only useful if it can be applied. We translate findings into actionable training, nutrition, and recovery protocols that real people can use.
Contextual Interpretation
A single study does not establish a principle. We interpret research within the broader context of the literature, acknowledging limitations and conflicting findings.
Ongoing Revision
Science evolves. We update our recommendations when new evidence emerges — even when it contradicts our previous position. Truth over ego.
Peak Performance DatabaseA curated archive of the most important research in sports science.
The Peak Performance Database is our curated collection of landmark studies, review papers, and meta-analyses that have shaped our understanding of training, nutrition, and recovery. Rather than leaving you to search through thousands of papers on PubMed, we have organized the most influential research into a browsable archive with plain-language summaries and practical takeaways.
What You Will Find
Each entry in the Peak Performance Database includes the full citation, a plain-language summary of the study's methods and findings, a discussion of the practical implications for training, and links to related articles and tools. Whether you are a coach looking to deepen your knowledge, an athlete trying to understand the science behind your program, or a curious lifter who wants to read the research yourself, the database is your starting point.
Continuously Updated
Sports science is a rapidly evolving field. New studies are published weekly, and our understanding of training, nutrition, and recovery continues to develop. We update the Peak Performance Database regularly with new entries, and we revisit existing entries when new research modifies or contradicts previous findings. This is a living archive, not a static reference.
From laboratory to training platform.
Research is only valuable when it is applied. Here is how we translate peer-reviewed science into the programs, tools, and content you use on ElitePTS:
Program Design
Every program template in our library is informed by research on volume, intensity, frequency, and progression. When a new meta-analysis is published on optimal training volume for hypertrophy, we review it and adjust our program templates accordingly. When a study challenges a long-held assumption about rest intervals or rep ranges, we evaluate the evidence and update our recommendations if warranted.
Tool Development
Our 100+ assessment and calculation tools are built on established formulas and validated equations from the research literature. The TDEE calculator uses validated predictive equations. The heart rate zone calculator uses the Karvonen formula. The 1RM estimator uses validated regression equations. Every tool cites its source formula and explains its limitations.
Content Creation
Every article in our library is written by a coach who has read the underlying research, not by a content writer summarizing a press release. We cite our sources, we discuss study limitations, and we distinguish between what the research shows and what we believe based on clinical experience. This transparency is what separates evidence-based content from fitness industry content.
Dive into the research behind your training.
Browse our article library, explore the Peak Performance Database, and discover the evidence behind every ElitePTS recommendation.