Symptoms of Overtraining
Tough training sessions followed by recovery are a physical requirement for improving athletic performance. But pushing too hard for too long, without adequate recovery can lead to what has been commonly called overtraining syndrome.
Recent research from the EROS report concludes that the predominant marker patterns observed in Over training syndrome were different from those in healthy athletes but similar to sedentary controls, suggesting that the syndrome is mostly a mix of deconditioning processes, independent of excessive training and triggered by additional risk factors. Excessive training / overtraining does play a part but other factors are also evident. In summary their findings indicated that a combination of worsened seep, excessive work or study for an elite athlete and decreased calorie intake may be the most important risk factors of over-training syndrome. More research in this area is needed but it is important for coaches and athletes to be aware of some of the symptoms of overtraining syndrome in order to acknowledge it and deal with it before it becomes a problem. Some of the common signs of overtraining syndrome are discussed in this blog.
Persistent Fatigue
One of the most common symptoms of overtraining is constant fatigue. This symptom manifests itself in the athlete in the form of tiredness, lethargy and listlessness, along with signs of poor concentration and poor tolerance of activity. This particular symptom can depend on the length of exercise, so that a sprinter will become fatigued in seconds in association with high lactate levels, while a marathon runner will fatigue after nearly 2 hours due to glycogen depletion. Fatigue in the athlete may limit their actual workouts and can also be present when the athlete is at rest. The constant feeling of tiredness and lack of energy appears to follow the athlete around during both training and normal lifestyle.
Persistent Muscle Soreness / Injuries
Recurring muscle injury is an indication for over-training in an athlete. Over-training affects the musculoskeletal system in different ways. Initially it can begin with just general muscle soreness. During this period, the body is subjected to a large amount of stresses which it cannot deal with. Due to the lack of recovery time, coupled with extra intense training sessions, the athlete’s body is unable to deal with the constant pressures exerted upon it. As a result, persistent muscle injuries occur and the athlete must deal with numerous setbacks. Some of the most common areas of injury include back, knee, ankle and foot injuries and this can even lead to abnormal hormone output.
Constant Irritability
Looking more at the psychological aspect of over-training, the athlete can become constantly irritable when suffering from over-training. This symptom is one that can fester through a team environment. A combination of disturbed sleep, with lack of rest and hormonal imbalances causes the athlete to feel distant from their sport and makes them lose focus. This together with high blood pressure causes the athlete to become agitated much easier and constantly in an argumentative state. This can then then lead to the athlete becoming less motivated to exercise and in turn impair performance. Most coaches agree that when an athlete becomes irritable following prolonged training sessions, a break from training and increased hours of sleep are usually two of the best
Loss of Appetite
Over-training can lead to a loss of appetite in the athlete. This can have many knock-on effects and can cause problems. Initially, the lack of food can result in less fuel for the athlete, and in turn can impair performance. From a health point of view, the athlete is reducing the number of nutrients and vitamins required for daily functioning which can be dangerous in terms of the potential for injury. A healthy, balanced diet is a factor in preventing over-training syndrome. An adequate intake of carbohydrates and fluids is key to maintaining energy & hydration levels.
Other symptoms of over-training include
- Frequent colds and infections / decreased immunity
- Difficulty sleeping / disturbed sleep
- Unintentional weight loss
- Poor concentration
- Lack of motivation
- Drop in performance
- Loss of enthusiasm for sport
- Increased resting heart rate
If any of these symptoms are present, the athlete should be questioned regarding their training status in an attempt to avoid the condition. Rest and recovery are the best activities for an athlete to combat the syndrome and they should be factored into an athlete’s training regime. In the article Overreaching/Overtraining – More Is Not Always Better Brad Roy outlines a few tips to help you get the most enjoyment and benefit from your exercise training program.
- Listen to your body and take extra recovery time as indicated
- Aim for more gradual increases in training volume and/or intensity to avoid spikes in training load
- Intersperse periods of intense/high-volume training with extended periods of rest/recovery and/or cross-training
- Recovery/rest between intense workouts is critical because this is when muscle tissue repair and growth occur
- Proper nutrition and hydration are important
- Quality sleep is essential
- Variety in your training is healthy; don’t do the same thing all the time
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References
Over Training – Causes of Sport’s Injuries
Novel insights of overtraining syndrome discovered from the EROS study
Endocrine and Metabolic Responses on Overtraining Syndrome (EROS) study raw and full data
Overtraining Syndrome: A Practical Guide
Overtraining syndrome: Causes, consequences, and methods for prevention
The overtraining syndrome by Dr. Phil Maffetone
The immune system and overtraining in athletes: clinical implications