Strength is how much force you can produce; power is how fast you can produce it. Power fades first with age, which is why jumps and throws stay in adult programs.
Strength moves the heavy thing; power moves the thing right now. Formally, power is force times velocity — the same muscle asked not just to produce force but to produce it in the fraction of a second before the moment passes: the stumble caught, the curb hopped, the gate of a ski turn.
The aging story is the reason the distinction earns a glossary entry: power declines earlier and faster than strength, because the fast-twitch machinery and the nervous system's quickness fade ahead of raw force. Which is why sensible adult programs keep a small, safe dose of fast.
How the two are trained differently
Strength training loads movements heavily and doesn't care about speed — the bar may move slowly because it must. Power training loads movements lightly-to-moderately and cares about nothing but intent: medicine-ball slams and throws, quick step-work, jumps where joints allow, light lifts moved as fast as good form permits. The load is modest precisely so the velocity can be real. Strength is the foundation — force you do not have cannot be expressed quickly — which is why power work sits on top of a strength base rather than replacing it.
Why the fast stuff stays as we age
The everyday emergencies of later life are power events: the trip caught before it becomes a fall, the balance recovered on a wet stair. Training that never asks for speed lets the fast machinery quietly retire — and the medicine ball is the kindest way to keep it employed: throws and slams deliver full-intent speed with almost no landing or technical tax, which is why they appear across programs here from teens to seventies. The balance-and-falls case is made in the seniors page; the sport versions — ski turns, trail reactions — in the ski and mountain-bike pages.
Common questions
Do I need to jump to train power?
No — throws, slams, quick sled-style pushes and fast light lifts train intent without impact. Jumping is one tool, added where knees and history allow.
Can I train power and strength in the same session?
Yes, in the classic order: fast work early while the nervous system is crisp, heavy work after, grinding fatigue last. Power practised tired teaches slowness.
How much power work does a general program need?
A seasoning — a few sets of intent, once or twice a week, forever. It is cheap insurance with a compounding payout.
