Independent of biochemical mechanisms, the brain also influences fatigue from exercise.[1]. For example, mental fatigue has a negative effect on muscular endurance. This phenomenon is most evident during endurance testing of specific muscle groups, as well as in untrained people.[2] Further support for psychological contributions to muscular endurance performance comes from research on attentional focus during resistance exercise, which found that exercisers focused on what they are moving (an external focus, such as the weight being lifted) may see moderate improvements in muscular endurance relative to exercisers focused on their limbs (an internal focus) or with no specified focus.[3]
References
- ^Noakes TD, St Clair Gibson ALogical limitations to the "catastrophe" models of fatigue during exercise in humans.Br J Sports Med.(2004-Oct)
- ^Giboin LS et alThe effect of ego depletion or mental fatigue on subsequent physical endurance performance: A meta-analysisPerformance Enhancement and Health.(2019)
- ^Grgic J, Mikulic PEffects of Attentional Focus on Muscular Endurance: A Meta-Analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health.(2021-Dec-22)