THE POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MITIGATING FATIGUE WITHIN A RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAM: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Abstract

Resistance training research places a great deal of emphasis on the factors in a program that affect the stimulus imposed on an individual's muscles. Although this has done a lot in improving knowledge surrounding optimizing training programs for many, fatigue physiology can often be neglected from the discussion. This review aims to discuss several mechanisms of fatigue, both at the musculoskeletal and nervous system levels, in an attempt to theorize the best course of action an athlete can take to optimize his program depending on the level of advancement. Upon analyzing the effects of cytoplasmic calcium ion accumulation, metabolite increases, and tolerable perception of effort, this paper concludes that as individuals reach greater degrees of advancement, their set-volume tolerance for growth likely decreases, and factors such as increasing rest times and reducing rep ranges may prove beneficial in mitigating fatigue. Furthermore, fatigue may not present as a drop in performance, but rather an inability to reach maximal performance on a set-per-set basis, with experimentation being the best approach to determine the optimal threshold for the athlete.