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Central Nervous System Load

Meaning

Central Nervous System Load is a clinical concept representing the total cumulative demand placed upon the brain and spinal cord by all forms of physiological and psychological stressors. This load requires significant energetic, neurochemical, and homeostatic resources to manage high-intensity physical training, complex cognitive tasks, and emotional regulation. Excessive or poorly recovered CNS load can manifest clinically as neurological fatigue, impaired motor unit firing efficiency, and significant dysregulation of the HPA axis. Monitoring this load is an essential practice for optimizing training adaptation and preventing overtraining syndrome.