Can clinicians and scientists explain and prevent unexplained underperformance syndrome in elite athletes: an interdisciplinary perspective and 2016 update

Abstract

The coach and interdisciplinary sports science and medicine team strive to continually progress the athlete's performance year on year. In structuring training programmes, coaches and scientists plan distinct periods of progressive overload coupled with recovery for anticipated performances to be delivered on fixed dates of competition in the calendar year. Peaking at major championships is a challenge, and training capacity highly individualised, with fine margins between the training dose necessary for adaptation and that which elicits maladaptation at the elite level. As such, optimising adaptation is key to effective preparation. Notably, however, many factors (eg, health, nutrition, sleep, training experience, psychosocial factors) play an essential part in moderating the processes of adaptation to exercise and environmental stressors, for example, heat, altitude; processes which can often fail or be limited. In the UK, the term unexplained underperformance syndrome (UUPS) has been adopted, in contrast to the more commonly referenced term overtraining syndrome, to describe a significant episode of underperformance with persistent fatigue, that is, maladaptation. This construct, UUPS, reflects the complexity of the syndrome, the multifactorial aetiology, and that ‘overtraining’ or an imbalance between training load and recovery may not be the primary cause for underperformance. UUPS draws on the distinction that a decline in performance represents the universal feature. In our review, we provide a practitioner-focused perspective, proposing that causative factors can be identified and UUPS explained, through an interdisciplinary approach (ie, medicine, nutrition, physiology, psychology) to sports science and medicine delivery, monitoring, and data interpretation and analysis.

Overtraining Syndrome

“…Örneğin, önemli bir stres faktörünün veya kötü beslenme gibi nedenlerin de katkıda bulunabileceği vurgulanır. Bu nedenle UUPS tanısı için önkoşul uzun süre dinlenmeye rağmen performansta beklenmeyen bir düşüş olsa da, nedensel açıdan daha geniş bir bakış açısı gerekir (7). Antrenörler de, antrenman yükünün bir göstergesi olan "aşırı antrenman" teriminin bir anlamda kendilerini de sorumluluk altına sokması nedeni ile "açıklanamayan performans düşüklüğü" tanımını kullanmayı tercih edebilmektedir (1).…”

Increased Oxidative Stress in Injured and Ill Elite International Olympic Rowers

“…Exceedingly high training loads and/or spikes in training load are a recognised risk factor for injury and illness, and fatigue 2 . Furthermore, illness and accumulating fatigue may result in the development of chronic underperformance 3 ; all of which can derail the athlete's season and may finish careers. Finding ways to reduce the risk of injury and illness is therefore a primary objective of the high-performance support team.…”

The team effect on doping in professional male road cycling (2005‐2016)

“…As an issue, this way of thinking allows us to investigate effects on doping from organizations such as teams, clubs, or federations that employ athletes. Many studies showed the role of an athlete's support personnel . However, here—again—individuals are considered analytic units to question their beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors that are more or less conducive to doping.…”

“…Through their communication and monitoring with and about the athlete, the support personnel provides an essential follow‐up mechanism to produce a strong performance. This work collective also attempts to prevent problems such as overtraining, fatigue, and illnesses . These interactions lead to a more or less precarious professional integration of athletes.…”