Supertraining

Here are some resources:

http://tinyurl.com/2qm5nu

Here is a definition from "The brain at work: A cerebral metabolic 
manifestation of central fatigue? J Neurosci Res. 2007 Mar 29;"

"Central fatigue refers to circumstances in which strength appears to 
be limited by the ability of the central nervous system to recruit 
motorneurons. Central fatigue manifests when the effort to contract 
skeletal muscles is intense and, thus, is aggravated when exercise is 
performed under stress, whereas it becomes attenuated following 
training. Central fatigue has not been explained, but the cerebral 
metabolic response to intense exercise, as to other modalities of 
cerebral activation, is a reduction in its "metabolic ratio" (MR), 
i.e., the brain's uptake of oxygen relative to that of carbohydrate."

It seems to me that this is not a direct failure of motorneurons at 
the peripheral level, but a failure of signalling from the brain that 
affects motorneuron function. This seems to be caused by an energy 
shortage. That's what central fatigue is, although most researchers 
admit they do not understand it well.

Whether that's what lifters have when they can't perform is another 
question. It's not just in the weight training sports though, 
endurance athletes are familiar with this term as well. It may well 
be the cause of the 'bonk', where marathoner runners and cyclists 
virtually lose CNS control and get the wobbles. (At the end of one 
marathon I wondered why I was running off the road when I was trying 
to run straight ahead!)

Branched chain amino acids (BCAA) were tried as supplements to 
prevent central fatigue, without success it seems. The idea was that 
they would inhibit transport of tryptophan and a metabolite, which 
was supposed to be involved in this process.

Paul Rogers
Gympie, Australia

--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Henk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Central nervous system fatigue: an enigma or lack of proper 
definition?
> 
> CNS fatigue: how many time have I read that term in the messages 
this
> group.
> 
> But did anybody ever wonder what the central nervous system is?
> 
> Just a quick look at Wikipedia: The central nervous system (CNS) 
represents
> the largest part of the nervous
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_system>  system, including 
the brain
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain>  and the spinal cord
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_cord> .
> 
> Spinal cord <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_cord>
> 
> Brain <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain>
> 
> Brain stem <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_stem>
> 
> Rhombencephalon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhombencephalon>
> 
> Pons <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pons> , Cerebellum
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebellum> , Medulla oblongata
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medulla_oblongata>
> 
> Mesencephalon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesencephalon>
> 
>  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tectum> Tectum,
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_peduncle> Cerebral peduncle,
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretectum> Pretectum,
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesencephalic_duct> Mesencephalic duct
> 
>  Prosencephalon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosencephalon>
> 
> Diencephalon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diencephalon>
> 
> Epithalamus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epithalamus> , Thalamus
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalamus> , Hypothalamus
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus> , Subthalamus
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subthalamus> , Pituitary
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_gland>  gland, Pineal gland
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineal_gland> , Third
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_ventricle>  ventricle
> 
> Telencephalon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telencephalon>
> 
> Rhinencephalon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinencephalon> , 
Amygdala
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdala> , Hippocampus
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocampus> , Neocortex
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neocortex> , Lateral ventricles
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_ventricles>
> 
> Looking at this definition "fatigue of the spinal cord" or
> "fatigue/exhaustion of the hypöthalamus-pituitary gland" or fatigue 
of the
> "autonomic nervous system' could also be called central nervous 
fatigue, or
> do we just mean "fatigue of the brain", "fatigue of the neocortex" 
or
> "fatigue of the motor cortex"? Is the old term "neurasthenia" of
> "psychasthenia"  the same as central nervous fatigue.
> 
> Before we throw this term around let's first define what we really 
mean, no
> miracle nobody comes up with a solution for a problem that is so 
ill defined
> as this one.
> 
> Henk Kraaijenhof
> Amstelveen
> Holland
> 
>   _____
> 
> Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Namens Jon Haddan
> Verzonden: zaterdag 14 april 2007 12:07
> Aan: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Onderwerp: [Supertraining] CNS Fatigue (Was: Question - Rest 
interval
> between sets?)
> 
> 
> 
> CNS fatigue seems to be a bit of a black box. Is there
> any real scientific understanding of it that addresses
> it in the way it typically is discussed by coaches, or
> is it just an explanation for declining performance
> when no other cause can be found?
> 
> Jon Haddan
> Irvine, CA
> 
> --- "Stephen Krzyminski Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> <mailto:sjkcscs%40hotmail.com> com>
> wrote:
> 
> > This would help peripheral fatigue but what about
> > cns fatigue? What happens
> > if this type of training is kept up for a few weeks,
> > how would this effect
> > the overall fatigue the individual would have both
> > peripheral and central?
> > Just some questions that i hope would spark more
> > conversation.
> >
> > Stephen Krzyminski
> > indianapolis IN
> >
> >
> > >From: "Drew Baye" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:drew%40baye.com> >
> > >Reply-To: Supertraining@ <mailto:Supertraining%40yahoogroups.com>
> yahoogroups.com
> > >To: <Supertraining@ <mailto:Supertraining%40yahoogroups.com>
> yahoogroups.com>
> > >Subject: [Supertraining] Re: Question - Rest
> > interval between sets?
> > >Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:54:44 -0400
> > >
> > >I use what Johan suggested, pairing antagonistic
> > muscle groups, and also
> > >rotating between lower body, upper body pushing,
> > and upper body pulling
> > >exercises. This allows enough rest between
> > exercises for the same muscle
> > >group to be able to use a decent amount of weight,
> > while cutting the
> > >overall
> > >workout time considerably.
> > >
> > >Drew Baye
> > >Altamonte Springs, FL
> > >High Intensity Training
> > >HYPERLINK "http://www.baye. <http://www.baye.com/> 
com/"www.baye.com
> > >
> > > _____
> > >
> > >From: Supertraining@ <mailto:Supertraining%40yahoogroups.com>
> yahoogroups.com
> > [mailto:Supertraining@ <mailto:Supertraining%40yahoogroups.com>
> yahoogroups.com]
> > >On Behalf Of wreckless61a
> > >Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 5:26 AM
> > >To: Supertraining@ <mailto:Supertraining%40yahoogroups.com>
> yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [Supertraining] Re: Question - Rest
> > interval between sets?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Susan,
> > >
> > >Congrats with your recent successes.
> > >
> > >As others have told you, rest intervals are
> > important. And in light of
> > >your recent victories, you and your coach are on to
> > something. Don't
> > >be impressed by the advice you get from "veterans"
> > in the gym. Most of
> > >them are following the herde anyway.
> > >
> > >On the other hand. A set is probably over in under
> > a minute and then
> > >you rest for two and a half minutes. Doesn't make
> > for a very dense
> > >workout does it? You're active for nearly 30% of
> > the time.
> > >
> > >You can increase the density by antagonistic
> > pairing.
> > >
> > >An example: you do one set for biceps, rest for a
> > minute, do one set
> > >for triceps, rest another minute and start all over
> > again. Assuming
> > >the sets take a minute, you're active for 50% of
> > the time, while
> > >giving the muscles 3 minutes to recuperate. How
> > does that sound?
> > >
> > >Makes for shorter workouts or more sets per
> > workout.
> > >
> > >Regards,
> > >Johan Bastiaansen
> > >Deurne, Belgium
>