Supertraining

I started to think about CNS fatigue and how it might
manifest itself.  It dawned on me that the best way to
illustrate CNS fatigue in my opinion is your ability
to perform your maximum 1rm.  

After you lift your maximum weight x1 how many times
can you repeat this lift before you can no longer lift
it no matter how much time you rest between lifts? 
 
This fatigue is no generally related to absence of
adequate energy substrate since the amount of energy
expended in 1 maximum lift is relatively small when
compared the energy of lift 70% 1rm x 10. 

Another way of illustrating CNS fatigue might be how
you feel when you start to lift.  Some days the weight
feels heavy and other days the same weight feels
light.  

When the weight feels weight you probably know that
you are in for a tough workout and will most likely
perform your 1 rm max weight whereas on the day that
the weight feels light every thing seems easy and you
can probably perform a new personal best.

To me that feeling of heaviness or light is CNS
fatigue vs CNS recovered.

Ralph Giarnella MD 
Southington Ct USA