"Axial fatigue" and the master/perpetual novice

[pepito]

So I've run across this term "axial fatigue" more than once lately. The gist is lifts that load the spine (as pretty much every fun lift does) create a special kind of fatigue. The argument then goes that in order to manage fatigue those lifts should be substituted with exercises like the leg press, machine hack squat, leg curl/extension, etc. This is largely an academic question for me because I won't go to a commercial gym more than once in a blue moon, but what does the Starting Strength community think of this concept of "axial fatigue" in general. Having done a few strongman meets, it seems plausible to me. I mean, a 5 event leaves me a special kind of fried. If there is something to it, are there exercises worth doing that don't creat this axial fatigue but don't require specialized equipment. I'm 52 with no athletic resume to speak of and picked up a barbell in anger for the first time in my mid 40s.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I've never heard the term "axial fatigue." How "special" could it be?

[Maybach]

Based on the location of the spine, what might all exercises which "load the spine" have in common, that exercises which do not "load the spine" do not?

[AndrewLewis]

I don't understand why we need all these special phrases for essentially "the muscles are fatigued, so you can't control your body the way you want." Do these additional terms actually help anyone communicate or explain more effectively?

And if those muscles are getting fatigued, if you get them stronger, what happens on future bouts of muscular contraction?

Pepito, competitive events are extremely taxing on your body, but probably not because of some special kind of fatigue. You're just pushing to the limit on everything you're doing in that event. It took me about two full days to recover (to the point where I could walk around normally) from a Judo meet I did earlier this year, but it was just because I was exhausted, I pushed as hard as I could, and land weird a few times, and hurt my knee.

[Martin Shenfield]

You manage the fatigue by choosing the correct starting loads then adding a small amount of weight each time. Enough to stress, recover and adapt.

I think this stuff is in the book.

[Satch12879]

Are they confusing mechanical fatigue with depletion of resources in a biological system?