Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of the Overtraining Syndrome

Abstract

Successful training not only must involve overload but also must avoid the combination of excessive overload plus inadequate recovery. Athletes can experience short-term performance decrement without severe psychological or lasting other negative symptoms. This functional overreaching will eventually lead to an improvement in performance after recovery. When athletes do not sufficiently respect the balance between training and recovery, nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR) can occur. The distinction between NFOR and overtraining syndrome (OTS) is very difficult and will depend on the clinical outcome and exclusion diagnosis. The athlete will often show the same clinical, hormonal, and other signs and symptoms. A keyword in the recognition of OTS might be "prolonged maladaptation" not only of the athlete but also of several biological, neurochemical, and hormonal regulation mechanisms. It is generally thought that symptoms of OTS, such as fatigue, performance decline, and mood disturbances, are more severe than those of NFOR. However, there is no scientific evidence to either confirm or refute this suggestion. One approach to understanding the etiology of OTS involves the exclusion of organic diseases or infections and factors such as dietary caloric restriction (negative energy balance) and insufficient carbohydrate and/or protein intake, iron deficiency, magnesium deficiency, allergies, and others together with identification of initiating events or triggers. In this article, we provide the recent status of possible markers for the detection of OTS. Currently, several markers (hormones, performance tests, psychological tests, and biochemical and immune markers) are used, but none of them meet all the criteria to make their use generally accepted.

Evidence of disturbed sleep and mood state in well-trained athletes during short-term intensified training with and without a high carbohydrate nutritional intervention

“…Periodisation with the application of the principle of overload training is a regular feature in an athletic training programme (Meeusen et al, 2013). These typically short-term 'intensified' periods occur in the forms of both training (training camps) and during busy competition schedules (tournaments, stage races etc.).…”

“…These typically short-term 'intensified' periods occur in the forms of both training (training camps) and during busy competition schedules (tournaments, stage races etc.). The risk of under-recovery during these times is considerable and if the balance between appropriate training stress and adequate recovery is disrupted, a state of 'overreaching' may develop (Meeusen et al, 2013). Overreaching can be defined as a short term decrease in performance, which in the absence of recovery (and supercompensation) may develop into the more severe overtraining syndrome (Fry et al 1991).…”

Nutrition and Training Adaptations in Aquatic Sports

“…Nevertheless, applying generic training methodologies may not be the most appropriate training approach (Kiely, 2012), because training responses vary among aquatic sports and events and among individual athletes preparing for a particular event. Whatever the annual training model, guidelines for nutrition should move away from generalized recommendations to an individualized approach to fuel needs based on each aquatic athlete's body size and composition and each athlete's specific training and competition program (Burke, 2010).…”

“…This strategically planned outcome, known as functional overreaching will eventually lead to an improvement in performance after recovery. When strenuous activity is carried out for longer periods and with insufficient recovery between training bouts, nonfunctional overreaching or even an overtraining syndrome can occur (Meeusen et al, 2013). The distinction between these negative outcomes of excessive training is very difficult, because changes in clinical, hormonal, and other signs and symptoms may not be apparent.…”

“…An approach to understanding the etiology of overreaching and overtraining involves the exclusion of organic diseases or infections, and factors such as dietary caloric restriction with an insufficient intake of carbohydrate and/or protein and micronutrient availability (e.g., iron deficiency, magnesium deficiency, allergies), along with identification of initiating events or triggers (Meeusen et al, 2013).…”