Iron Culture presented by MASS Ep 354 - All About "Central" or "Systemic" Fatigue
11 snips
Nov 19, 2025 The discussion kicks off with insights on Helms' competition prep and the troubling state of academic publishing. They then explore the nuances of central and systemic fatigue, debating mental versus physical aspects. Personalized deload strategies are emphasized, focusing on nutrition, sleep, and flexibility. The hosts highlight the risks of misinterpreting fatigue in bodybuilding, criticizing current trends that promote minimal effort over effective training. Finally, they tackle modern misconceptions in evidence-based content, warning against a lack of intensity in training.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Systemic Fatigue Is Multi‑Factorial
- "Systemic fatigue" describes fatigue affecting multiple systems and is not simply "mental fatigue."
- Eric Helms warns against oversimplifying causes and urges exploration of physiological mechanisms beyond psychology.
Central Fatigue Can Be Quantified And Is Often Short‑Lived
- Central fatigue can be measured in neuromuscular labs by comparing voluntary vs. stimulated force output.
- Measured central fatigue is usually temporary and context dependent.
Peripheral Damage Feeds Central Limits
- Peripheral factors (muscle damage, glycogen depletion, EC coupling failure) can cause systemic or central effects.
- Performance drops often reflect interacting peripheral and central mechanisms, not pure "mental" limits.
