Modify

If the numbers (in terms of load and sets/reps) OR the biofeedback (in terms of perception of effort, MMC, injury potential, etc.) paint a negative picture when evaluating the previous mesocycle, something needs to change.

The direction of modification will generally be based on which aspect of the data was limiting. 

When making changes to an exercise variation/order, loading/rep scheme, etc., it is generally advised to NOT completely overhaul your training.

We should always be building a complete picture of what works for us as an individual — versus what clearly does not — and this means holding onto some degree of consistency in all of our subsequent training blocks.

Example 1:

You have chronically poor knee health that is exacerbated by heavy squatting/lunging movements, but leg pressing feels great and provides an ideal stimulus compared to the cost of injury/fatigue.

It’s probably be a good idea for you to keep some kind of leg press variation in your training at all times and continue to build around this movement pattern so you can stay healthy and avoid further knee issues.

Example 2:

You find that performing leg press with very high load and quad-focused set-up (low foot placement) bothers your knees.

Rather than moving away from leg pressing completely, you instead alter the rep range, tempo and foot position to alleviate the problem and allow yourself to continue progressing along a slightly different dimension.