Overtraining Syndrome

Abstract

Context:Fatigue and underperformance are common in athletes. Understanding overtraining syndrome (OTS) is helpful in the evaluation, management, and education of athletes.Evidence Acquisition:Relevant articles in English were searched with OVID (1948-2011) and PubMed using the following keywords: overtraining syndrome, overtraining, overreaching, unexplained underperformance, staleness, pathophysiology, management, treatment, evaluation. Bibliographies were reviewed for additional resources.Results:OTS appears to be a maladapted response to excessive exercise without adequate rest, resulting in perturbations of multiple body systems (neurologic, endocrinologic, immunologic) coupled with mood changes. Many hypotheses of OTS pathogenesis are reviewed, and a clinical approach to athletes with possible OTS (including history, testing, and prevention) is presented.Conclusions:OTS remains a clinical diagnosis with arbitrary definitions per the European College of Sports Science’s position statement. History and, in most situations, limited serologies are helpful. However, much remains to be learned given that most past research has been on athletes with overreaching rather than OTS.

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation downregulates the increase of monocytes expressing toll-like receptor 4 in response to 6-day intensive training in kendo athletes

“…Overtrained athletes reportedly have higher indexes of oxidative stress than well-trained athletes do (Tanskanen et al 2010). Consequently, oxidative stress with inflammation can contribute to chronic fatigue and overtraining syndrome in athletes (Kreher and Schwartz 2012).…”

“…The intensive production of ROS usually leads to oxidative stress (Macdonald et al 2003). Excessive oxidative stress can cause inflammation, muscle fatigue, and soreness, thereby inhibiting exertion during athletic performance (Kreher and Schwartz 2012). Overtrained athletes reportedly have higher indexes of oxidative stress than well-trained athletes do (Tanskanen et al 2010).…”

Neuroscience of Exercise: From Neurobiology Mechanisms to Mental Health

“…Overtraining appears to be a maladaptive response to excessive exercise without adequate rest, resulting in perturbations to multiple body systems (neurological, endocrine and immune systems) coupled with mood changes [86]. The symptoms of overtraining include depressed mood, general apathy, decreased self-esteem, emotional instability, impaired performance, restlessness, irritability, disturbed sleep, weight loss, loss of appetite, increased resting heart rate, increased vulnerability to injuries, hormonal changes and a lack of supercompensation [87].…”

Age-Related Changes in Performance and Recovery Kinetics in Masters Athletes: A Narrative Review

“…Any ageeffect on recovery kinetics is most likely to be individual and due to an alteration of one or more of the processes detailed above. However, recovery kinetics in masters athletes is a significant issue as it can not only have an effect on subsequent sports performance but potentially also the incidence of injury (Kreher & Schwartz, 2012).…”

“…Poor recovery from a physical exercise bout can lead to overreaching, overtraining and possibly subsequent injury (Kreher & Schwartz, 2012). Currently, little is known about what effect age may have on recovery kinetics after exercise in a masters athlete or ageing sedentary population.…”