http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Overtraining_Syndrome
http://www.running-physio.com/stress-recovery-balance/
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/publishahead/Improving_the_Diagnosis_of_Nonfunctional.96562.aspx
Overtraining syndrome
Can be caused by too much high intensity exercise and/or too little recovery time between exercise sessions – occurs when there is a failed adaptation to overload training. After the overload stimulus, homeostasis is not restored physiological, biochemical and immunological alterations. Common cause of persistent tiredness and underperformance in athletes – especially when the fatigue is out of proportion to the training stimulus.
Symptoms – chronic fatigue; poor performance – may get a reappearance of old faults in technique; reduced ability to train; increase in recovery time; muscle aches; headaches; weight loss; sleep problems; increased risk for injury; apathy; anxiety; may have bouts of hysteria; giving up in face of difficult situations; over-sensitivity to criticism; lowered self esteem; depression; viral infections; impaired concentration.
Training history may reveal excessive anaerobic training, too rapid increase in training load, insufficient recovery time, excessive workload, excessive competition demands
Other stresses (eg life events, exams) may also reduce the ability of an athlete to recover from hard training sessions
Symptoms are assumed to be due to a combination of suppressed immunity, imbalance in the neuroendocrine/homeostasis system and muscle damage.
Need to differentiate between overtraining and the normal exercise related fatigue associated with an overload stimulus of training – also need to rule out medical disease, dehydration, anaemia, physical changes due to ageing, pregnancy.
No diagnostic test identification may only occur due to decreased performance of athlete and the elimination of other causes.
Management:
Rest for up to several weeks gradual return to light training; relaxation techniques; good communication with coach; psychological support, if indicated.
Monitoring of mood with, for example, the Profile of Mood Questionaire can gauge recovery progress and be used on a regular basis for prevention.
Prevention:
Learn from the mistake that brought on the symptoms.
Periodisation of training with sufficient recovery keeps balance between training and recovery. The challenge that the athlete (and coach) have to meet, is to gradually increase the training load so that adaptations occur, but the negative effects of injury and overtraining do not occur.
Decrease training load if deteriorating moods are detected
Proper nutrition and adequate sleep important
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