Skip to main content

Central Fatigue Mechanisms

Meaning

Central Fatigue Mechanisms encompass the complex neurophysiological processes within the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord, that lead to a progressive reduction in the neural drive directed toward the working musculature. This phenomenon is independent of peripheral muscle metabolic failure and manifests as an inability to sustain or generate maximal voluntary force or power output, often perceived as an overwhelming sense of lethargy or profound exhaustion. It represents a protective, regulatory function of the central nervous system to prevent systemic physiological damage.