Crossfit Overtraining And CNS Fatigue

This goes out to all those fitness enthusiasts. At times, we become so obsessed with nailing our fitness goals in the least time possible that we tend to overlook what our body tells us.

In simple words, we take on more than what our body can put up with.

This is quite prominent with CrossFit routines. High intensity, more volume and an increasing frequency is commonly focused on during CrossFit training – a principal called ‘Progressive Overload’. Although it is a generally practiced concept, it can often take a toll on the Central Nervous System and result in exhaustion.

What Is CNS Fatigue?

For starters, you should know that whatever physical activity you perform – eating, working out, running – is a stressor for your body. You read that right.

See, stress is the primary catalyst for physical transformation, adaptation and growth. At the same time, for stress to work productively, it demands a balanced level of recovery and rest. If the pressure takes over, it declines the overall health, translating into exhaustion and degrading performance, also called CNS fatigue.

The Signs Of CNS Fatigue

CNS fatigue is an ever-present across the fitness and athletic world. It refers to the body being unable to meet physical demands, coupled with mental stress which translates into behavioral and physical signs. Some of the most common signs of CNS fatigue are:

• Feeling drained
• Mild aches and body soreness
• A sharp decline in performance
• Constant pain in joints and muscles
• Decreasing immunity
• Falling capacity to train
• Constant state of depression
• Poor appetite
• Increasing number of injuries
• Irritation and mood swings

The Mechanism Of CNS Fatigue

Every time you move, the brain lights up with impulses generated by chemical reactions that lead to muscle contractions. The flow of these impulses is referred to as central drive.

After intense workout, the central drive reduces, leading to a feeling of fatigue even when the muscles can push further.

As the progressive overload concept discussed tells us that we need to push the body to the max to become stronger, we need to become habitual of an ever growing intensity of training.

Now, whether it is the competitive aspect of CrossFit or the surging levels of dopamine in our body, most of us tend to skip out on the concept of diminishing returns. We continue pushing harder without knowing how to cope with it.
The solution is to identify your limits and stick to them. Don’t push your body to the max every day. You don’t need to give in a 100% every time. Hold back, recover, rest and come back stronger. If you are looking for a personal trainer for CrossFit in Verona who can help you devise a customized plan that specifically works for you, check out PFD CrossFit today.