DJ's T-Nation article "tapping test" for CNS fatigue

[Garrett Smith]

So, I just read Dan John's new article at T-Nation (always good stuff!) and I became interested in the "tapping test" he referred to. I'm too lazy to do a waking HR or count pencil dots every morning, so I googled "central nervous system test tapping free" and found multiple links to a shareware 20-day trial version of a 25-second tapping test.

Here's the link I downloaded it from:
http://www.download3000.com/download_27666.html

There were multiple other places to download the same program from Arialit Labs.

It is simply tapping on a button for 25 seconds to see how many times you can do it. I'm going to give it a run for a while...maybe write the numbers in my training log to keep track...FYI.

[Steven Low]

That's actually a pretty genius way to check CNS fatigue.

Although the other way I've seen that involved just a bit more effort is testing max vertical leap. Obviously, if your CNS is fried you're going to have some decreasing in your power. Heart rate test can be obscured by a variety of factors it seems so it's not always the best one (although it will work most of the time).


Rest of the article was pretty good too. It's funny how easy people can get away from their goals sometimes myself including myself.

[Daniel Olmstead]

Thanks for the link. As a newbie to this training thing, I've been puzzled over CNS fatigue and wondering, when I'm tired, whether I should take a week off or just push through it. I'll be curious to try this test out for a while and see what happens.

[Chris Forbis]

Originally Posted by Steven Low

That's actually a pretty genius way to check CNS fatigue.

Although the other way I've seen that involved just a bit more effort is testing max vertical leap. Obviously, if your CNS is fried you're going to have some decreasing in your power. Heart rate test can be obscured by a variety of factors it seems so it's not always the best one (although it will work most of the time).


Rest of the article was pretty good too. It's funny how easy people can get away from their goals sometimes myself including myself.

I think I discussed this with Greg before... standing broad jump would also work. That might give better resolution (and be easier to measure) since you can broad jump more than you can vert.

[Garrett Smith]

Since I log on every morning pre-workout (to check email and my last workout #s), this particular test is very appealing to me.

[Gant Grimes]

"Are you making progress?"

An awesome question that should be asked and answered daily.

[Dave Paton]

I think i may be hitting the CNS fatigue right now. back in April I PR'd on snatch at 155lbs after completing a 6 week OL program recommended by Dan John on his website. Yesterday I failed at 3 attempts with 140. this was after doing another 6 week program. I may have to re-evaluate but I want to finish this damn program!

[Steven Low]

Yeah, if you're "new" as in beginner level strength (see Rippetoe weightlifting standards if you have no clue) and you're not making progress after a couple workouts and find yourself stalling or decreasing.... take a couple days off.

[Derek Weaver]

Perhaps the best line from that article: "For the truly dense, if you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."

Good, good stuff on the CNS points. In my experience, CNS fatigue has always kinda crept up on me. This how I figured out how crucial back off and rest weeks are. Nothing worse than setting a PR, going stale for 5 days and then getting the flu and being forced to take 10 days off.

[JW Luckett]

Isn't the "guru" referred to at the beginning of the article Glassman himself?