An ACE Certified Personal Trainer is planning to include high-intensity activities within a client's muscular-training program. When should these activities be performed?

Including high-intensity activities early in the conditioning portion of a workout is advisable because it allows the body to perform at its best when energy levels are highest and fatigue is minimal. During this phase, the client has usually completed the warm-up and is prepared for more demanding exercises. Starting with high-intensity activities can lead to more effective performance and adaptation because they require significant strength and power.

Performing high-intensity movements toward the beginning of the session maximizes the effectiveness of those activities since they demand higher cognitive focus, energy, and muscular output. If such activities were to occur later in the workout, clients might be too fatigued to perform optimally, which could lead to poor technique, decreased performance, and possibly increased risk of injury.

The other options involve timing that could compromise the quality of the high-intensity activities. For example, doing these activities toward the end may not provide sufficient energy and could lead to less effective training outcomes. Similarly, conducting them during the warm-up would not be ideal, as warm-ups are typically focused on preparing the body for exercise rather than pushing it to maximal effort.